- Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)
Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)
At Mayo Clinic Healthcare, our endocrinology and gynaecology specialists provide expert assessment and PMOS treatment for people experiencing hormonal, metabolic or reproductive symptoms. Your consultant will first take time to understand your symptoms and health history before recommending appropriate blood tests, imaging or other investigations. Mayo Clinic Healthcare offers specialist endocrine care and advanced diagnostic testing in London.
Because PMOS can affect several aspects of your health, assessment may involve both endocrinology and gynaecology. This coordinated approach helps your care team develop a personalised plan based on your symptoms, metabolic health, menstrual cycle and future fertility goals.
Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) is a hormonal and metabolic condition that can affect periods, ovulation, skin and hair, fertility, weight and emotional wellbeing. It was previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
The new name reflects the fact that the condition involves more than the ovaries. Despite the former name, you do not need to have ovarian cysts to have PMOS. The condition can involve changes in androgen hormones, ovulation and the way the body responds to insulin.
PMOS can affect people with ovaries, and symptoms commonly begin around puberty or during the reproductive years. Symptoms and their severity vary considerably from person to person.
Symptoms of PMOS vary. Some people have only mild changes, while others experience symptoms that affect their physical health, fertility or emotional wellbeing.
Symptoms may include:
- Irregular periods, infrequent periods or long gaps between periods
- Difficulty becoming pregnant because ovulation is irregular or does not happen regularly
- Excess facial or body hair, known as hirsutism
- Thinning hair or hair loss from the scalp
- Acne or oily skin
- Weight gain or difficulty managing weight
- Darkened, thickened areas of skin, particularly around the neck or underarms (called acanthosis nigricans) or skin tags
These symptoms can also occur for other reasons, so having one or more does not necessarily mean you have PMOS. Specialist assessment can help establish the cause.
When should you seek medical advice?
Consider arranging a medical assessment if your periods are consistently irregular, you develop unwanted facial or body hair or persistent acne, or you are having difficulty becoming pregnant. You should also speak to a clinician if symptoms are affecting your everyday life and/or your emotional wellbeing.
Diagnosis is important because PMOS is associated with longer-term health risks, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Regular assessment can help identify and manage these risks.
If you are planning a pregnancy or are already pregnant, speak to your care team about your PMOS. PMOS is associated with a higher risk of some pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy. Your care team can explain whether you may need additional monitoring.
The exact cause of PMOS is not fully understood. It is a complex condition involving hormonal and metabolic factors. There is a genetic susceptibility linked to the genes that are associated with an increased predisposition to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
Factors associated with PMOS include:
- Higher androgen levels. Androgens are hormones that are present in everyone. Higher levels or increased androgen activity can contribute to excess hair growth, acne and disrupted ovulation.
- Insulin resistance. This means the body's cells do not respond to insulin as effectively as expected. Higher insulin levels can influence ovarian hormone production and metabolic health.
- Family history. PMOS is more common in people who have a close relative with the condition or type 2 diabetes.
Body weight, particularly if centrally distributed, can influence metabolic symptoms in some people, but PMOS can affect people across a range of body sizes. Assessment should therefore consider your overall health and symptoms rather than weight alone.
There is no single PMOS diagnosis test. At Mayo Clinic Healthcare, your assessment will begin with a consultation with a consultant in our endocrinology department.
Your consultant may ask about your periods, symptoms, medicines, family history, weight changes and pregnancy plans before deciding which tests are appropriate.
In adults, PMOS is generally diagnosed when other possible causes have been excluded and at least two of the following are present:
- Irregular or absent ovulation, often recognised through irregular menstrual cycles
- Clinical or blood-test evidence of raised androgen activity
- A polycystic ovarian appearance on ultrasound, or in selected adults an appropriate anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) result
If you already have irregular menstrual cycles and evidence of excess androgen activity, an ovarian ultrasound or AMH test may not be necessary to establish the diagnosis.
Assessment in adolescents follows different criteria, and ultrasound and AMH are not recommended for diagnosing PMOS in this age group.
What tests may be used for PMOS?
Depending on your symptoms and clinical history, your consultant may recommend:
- Hormone blood tests to assess androgen levels and investigate other possible hormonal causes of your symptoms.
- Blood glucose testing to assess how your body manages sugar and identify metabolic risk.
- Cholesterol and other metabolic blood tests where appropriate to assess your wider cardiovascular health.
- Pelvic or gynaecological ultrasound when imaging of the ovaries is clinically useful.
- Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) blood testing in some adults. AMH can sometimes be used instead of ultrasound to help assess whether the ovaries have a polycystic appearance. AMH shouldn't be used on its own to diagnose PMOS.
Your consultant may also request tests to rule out other hormonal conditions that can produce similar symptoms. PMOS diagnosis is based on the overall clinical picture rather than the result of any single investigation.
There is currently no cure for PMOS, but PMOS treatment can help manage symptoms, support reproductive health and reduce longer-term health risks. Your treatment plan will depend on which symptoms matter most to you, your metabolic health and whether you are planning a pregnancy.
Treatment may include:
- Lifestyle and metabolic health support that includes regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, sleep and other sustainable lifestyle changes can support overall health and metabolic wellbeing.
- Medicines to regulate periods including hormonal contraception or progestogen treatment may be considered for some people with irregular periods.
- Metformin or GLP-1 agonists may be recommended in selected people to improve metabolic health and the body's response to insulin.
- Treatment for acne or excess hair depending on your circumstances, your consultant may discuss hormonal treatments, anti-androgen medicines or treatments directed specifically at the skin or hair.
- Weight-management support if clinically appropriate and aligned with your health goals, your specialist may discuss evidence-based approaches to weight management incuding the use of GLP-1 agonists
- Fertility treatment if irregular ovulation is affecting your ability to become pregnant, your consultant can discuss medicines that encourage ovulation and advise whether referral to a specialist fertility service is appropriate.
- Psychological support if anxiety, depression and concerns about body image are recognised aspects of PMOS for some people and should be addressed as part of comprehensive care.
At Mayo Clinic Healthcare, treatment is personalised rather than based on a single standard approach. Your consultant will discuss the benefits and limitations of appropriate options with you and adjust your care as your symptoms, health priorities or circumstances change.
PMOS can involve reproductive, hormonal, metabolic and emotional health. Mayo Clinic Healthcare brings together specialist expertise so these different aspects of your health can be considered as part of one coordinated assessment. These may be either from departments here or through our partner clinic in the US.
At our central London clinic, you can benefit from:
- Consultant-led endocrinology and gynaecology expertise
- Personalised assessment based on your symptoms and priorities
- Advanced diagnostic testing in one location
- A multidisciplinary approach when your care involves more than one specialty
- Access to the wider expertise of the Mayo Clinic network when appropriate
Is PMOS the same condition as PCOS?
Yes. Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) is the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The new name was announced in May 2026 to better reflect the condition's hormonal, metabolic and reproductive effects. The change is being introduced internationally over a transition period.
Can you have PMOS without ovarian cysts?
Yes. Ovarian cysts are not required for a diagnosis of PMOS. In adults who have irregular menstrual cycles and signs of increased androgen activity, ultrasound may not be needed to make the diagnosis.
Can PMOS be cured?
There is currently no cure for PMOS, but treatment can help control symptoms and reduce associated health risks. Your treatment can be adapted over time as your health, symptoms and priorities change.
Private health insurance
Mayo Clinic Healthcare works with all major private health insurance providers, including AXA PPP, Aviva, BUPA, Health Partners Group, Vitality Health and WPA. Self-pay arrangements are also available.
Book a private PMOS assessment
If you are experiencing symptoms of PMOS, have questions about an existing diagnosis or would like to discuss PMOS treatment, our endocrinology and gynaecology specialists can provide a personalised assessment in central London.
Request an appointment with Mayo Clinic Healthcare or call +44 (0) 207 871 2575.
Medically Reviewed by
Dr Vanderpump, Consultant Endocrinologist
- Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)