Irregular periods, excess hair growth, fertility problems, weight gain and more. Many women are putting up with symptoms of PMOS (formerly known as PCOS) without knowing there’s something wrong — discover more about this problem, and why it’s important to give it an accurate name.
Words: Amy Mica Marsden. Images: Shutterstock
After more than 14 years of campaigning, today it was announced that PCOS, a common hormonal disorder, would be renamed to PMOS in an effort to combat the misconceptions the name caused.
Once referred to as Polycystic ovary syndrome, the disorder will now be known as Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome in a move long-awaited by global campaigners, including PCOS charity, Verity.
In a new article published in The Lancet today, researchers say ‘the term PCOS is 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.’
According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 10-13% of reproductive-aged women are affected by PMOS, but up to 70% of these people worldwide have no idea they even have this condition.
What is PMOS, and what are the symptoms?
PMOS is a relatively common hormonal (endocrine) disorder affecting millions of people worldwide, in which affected ovaries contain about twice as many small ‘cysts’ as regular ovaries. These ‘cysts’ are not filled with fluid and cannot burst like typical cysts; rather, they are follicles within the ovary that have not matured.
These immature follicles cause a range of symptoms, though each sufferer is different and not all symptoms may be present. PMOS can also cause excess androgens, or high levels of ‘male’ hormones in your body, leading to signs such as excess facial or body hair.
According to the NHS, the most common symptoms of PMOS include, but are not limited to:
- Irregular periods or no periods at all
- difficulty getting pregnant (because of irregular ovulation or no ovulation)
- excessive hair growth (hirsutism) – usually on the face, chest, back or buttocks
- weight gain
- thinning hair and hair loss from the head
- oily skin or acne
Why it’s important to know the signs of PMOS
As reported by the charity Verity, PMOS can pose serious long-term health risks if left undiagnosed. Which is why, if you think you may have any of the above symptoms, it’s important to contact your GP.
Aside from problems with fertility and other health issues, PMOS is strongly associated with insulin resistance. This, in turn, can pose an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. In fact, according to Verity, women with PMOS are up to 40% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than women without the disorder.
Insulin resistance may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life, though the risks can be reduced with preventative measures like increased fitness and a healthy diet.
It is thought that PMOS may also carry an increased risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer, especially in women who experience fewer than four periods a year. According to Cancer Research UK, endometrial cancer risk is 2.8 times higher in women with PMOS than in those without.
Next steps and treatment
Unfortunately, there is no cure or treatment for PMOS, but there are ways to manage individual symptoms – and ways to help ward off any long-term complications.
Maintaining a healthy weight is important for people with the disorder, and many risk factors can be ‘greatly improved by losing excess weight’, according to NHS guidelines – in fact, ‘weight loss of just 5% can lead to a significant improvement in [PMOS]’.
To combat infrequent, irregular or absent periods, those with PMOS may be prescribed the contraceptive pill, progestogen tablets, or other forms of hormonal contraception. In turn, this can help to reduce the long-term risk of endometrial cancer.
There is also a medicine named clomifene, which may help women with PMOS who are struggling with fertility problems.
If you think you may have PMOS, the first thing to do is to book an appointment with your GP and advocate for yourself.
At the time of publication, Top Santé has reached out to Verity for comment and will update shortly. For more resources on PMOS/PCOS, visit Verity-PCOS.org.uk
