Where Are You in Your Menopause Journey?
Take Our QuizOn May 12, 2026, a landmark paper published in The Lancet announced that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) will be renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The authors say the new name better reflects the condition's full impact: a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder that affects far more than the ovaries and reproductive system. The name change is especially relevant to women in the menopause transition, when irregular periods and fertility concerns may become less central, but metabolic and cardiovascular health still deserve attention.
According to the paper's authors, the old term was “inaccurate, implying pathological ovarian cysts, obscuring diverse endocrine and metabolic features, and contributing to delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, and stigma, while curtailing research and policy framing." The name change was the culmination of a 14-year global consensus process involving 56 leading academic, clinical, and patient organizations, and shaped by surveys that gathered input from more than 14,300 people with the condition and health professionals from every world region.
What does the name change from PCOS to PMOS mean for my care?
Changing the name of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) is just the beginning of the path for millions of women with PMOS getting the healthcare they need and deserve. The transition from PCOS to PMOS is expected to happen over the next three years alongside an international education and awareness effort aimed at healthcare professionals and researchers around the world.
In practical terms, this means more doctors and other clinicians will approach diagnosing and treating PMOS through a wider, metabolic and endocrine lens rather than a purely reproductive one so that women who spent years being dismissed and misdiagnosed may finally have language that reflects their reality. And doctors cannot only diagnose and treat PMOS early but also fully understand the implications and effects of PMOS on a woman’s health and longevity.
What is PMOS (formerly PCOS)?
PMOS affects more than one in eight women worldwide, making it one of the most prevalent hormonal conditions in women's health. It’s characterized by hormonal dysregulation, including androgen excess and disrupted ovulation. Because progesterone production depends on ovulation, women with PMOS may experience inconsistent or reduced progesterone exposure over time, especially as they enter perimenopause, which can affect weight, skin, metabolic, cardiovascular, and mental health. In younger women, PMOS can often look reproductive: irregular periods, fertility challenges, pregnancy complications. As women move through their 30s, 40s, and beyond, metabolic health often becomes a larger part of the picture. According to the authors: Changes in estrogen, muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, and body fat distribution may may previously manageable PMOs symptoms suddenly feel worse. That's why diagnosing and treating PMOS appropriately remains so important throughout life.
Symptoms and Conditions Associated with PMOS
- Metabolic: obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels , cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnoea
- Reproductive: problems with ovulation, irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, pregnancy complications, and endometrial cancer
- Psychological: depression, anxiety, poor quality of life, and eating disorders
- Dermatological: acne, hair loss, and excess facial or body hair
Are my symptoms related to PMOS or perimenopause?
This is a tough question to answer because the research is still evolving. Research is sparse about definitive ways to differentiate some of the symptoms of PMOS and menopause. Women with PMOS navigating perimenopause and menopause can feel like they’re managing two conditions at once because in many ways, they are.
Both involve significant hormonal fluctuations and change, and many symptoms overlap including sleep disruption, mood changes, shifts in body composition, and worsening insulin resistance. A history of PMOS should prompt ongoing conversations with your clinician about blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, liver health, sleep apnea, and cardiovascular risk, especially during midlife.
Research shows that women with PMOS tend to reach menopause later than women without the condition, which means they may experience a longer period of hormone variability in perimenopause. Low progesterone, which happens with PMOS and the menopause transition, is a factor in many of the overlapping symptoms. And because there is no single test that can confirm perimenopause, understanding what's driving your symptoms often requires looking at the bigger picture rather than searching for one explanation.
The recent name change from PCOS to PMOS reflects an important shift in thinking: this is not simply a condition of the ovaries or the reproductive years. It's a lifelong endocrine and metabolic condition that continues to matter well beyond menopause.
How to Manage PMOS (Formerly PCOS) in Perimenopause and Menopause
Below, Dr. Mary Claire Haver outlines below some of the steps you can take to manage the symptoms. Because both conditions involve hormonal imbalance, some of the same methods can be used to improve symptoms for both PMOS and menopause. Lifestyle modifications can significantly improve your quality of life.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Because of the increased risk of insulin resistance, weight gain can be a challenging issue when PMOS and menopause are happening simultaneously. The encouraging news: studies show that losing 5 percent of body weight can make a big difference for PMOS patients, bringing benefits like restoring a normal cycle.
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene
Hot flashes and mood changes can make it challenging to get a good night’s sleep. To help promote a restful night, stick to a consistent bedtime and wake time. Try to exercise in the morning, soon after you wake up. It’s also best to avoid caffeine and alcohol.
One important call-out: PMOS can increase your risk of sleep apnea, so be sure to tell your clinician if you experience insomnia, frequent wakeups, snoring, daytime sleepiness, brain fog, morning headaches or other symptoms of sleep apnea.
Eat Plenty of Protein and Whole Foods
Good nutrition can help reduce hot flashes, improve sleep and cardiovascular health, increase bone density and muscle mass, and help you maintain a healthy weight. Studies show that women who eat diets high in whole foods (including fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains) have better overall health and fewer menopause symptoms.
Talk to Your Doctor
Frustratingly, there’s not a lot of definitive research to help women determine if symptoms are related to PMOS or perimenopause. If you have PMOS and are in midlife, have a discussion with your clinician about how to manage these two conditions simultaneously. PMOS is a long-term condition, and the treatment and healthcare you receive needs to change as you move through different stages of life. Remember: Screening and seeking out individualized care become even more important in midlife.
