From PCOS to PMOS: What You Need to Know

If you've been following health news recently, you may have seen headlines about a major change in medicine. Polycystic ovary syndrome, widely known as PCOS, has been officially renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. 

For families whose child has been diagnosed with PCOS, this news can feel confusing, or even unsettling. Does this mean something about the condition has changed or does your child need a new diagnosis? 

The short answer: no. The condition itself hasn't changed. But the name finally has, and that matters more than you might think. Here's what we want every family to understand.

What is PMOS (formerly PCOS)? 

PMOS is one of the most common hormonal conditions affecting people with ovaries. At its core, PMOS is a condition in which the body produces an imbalance of hormones — particularly elevated levels of androgens like testosterone. This hormonal imbalance disrupts how the ovaries function, affecting menstruation, ovulation and a wide range of other body systems including metabolism, skin and mental health. 

Despite what the old name suggested, PMOS is not simply a condition of the ovaries, and it does not require the presence of cysts. This is one of the key reasons the name needed to change. 

What are the symptoms of PMOS? 

PMOS can look different from person to person, but common symptoms include: 

• Irregular, infrequent or absent menstrual periods — often one of the first signs noticed in adolescent girls 
• Heavier-than-normal periods 
• Persistent or severe acne, particularly on the face, chest or back 
• Excess hair growth on the face, neck, chest or abdomen 
• Thinning hair or hair loss on the scalp 
• Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen 
• Dark patches of skin often around the neck, armpits or groin 
• Anxiety, depression or low mood 

Beyond these more visible symptoms, PMOS carries important long-term health implications including an elevated risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. This is precisely why diagnosing and managing it early — even in the teenage years — matters so much. 

Who does it affect?

PMOS can develop at any point after puberty begins. While it has traditionally been discussed in the context of adult women — particularly in relation to fertility — it absolutely affects children and adolescents too, and symptoms often first appear in the early years of menstruation. 

Girls who experienced early puberty (signs of puberty before age 8) may be at higher risk. Those with a family history of PMOS, type 2 diabetes, or related metabolic conditions also have an increased likelihood of developing it.  

How has our understanding of the condition evolved?

The old name — polycystic ovary syndrome — was always a poor fit for the condition it described. Many people with PMOS don't have ovarian cysts at all, and its focus on ovaries has contributed to missed diagnoses and inadequate treatment.

The condition is far more than a gynecological one. By labeling it a "syndrome" of the ovaries, the name implied the problem was primarily reproductive. In reality, PMOS involves the endocrine system, metabolic function, cardiovascular health, skin and mental well-being. The new name, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, is designed to reflect the full reality of the condition. 

At Lurie Children’s, we see PMOS through a unique lens. We are often the first to identify its signs and we have the opportunity to intervene at a stage when doing so can make a meaningful difference to a young person's long-term health. The Lurie Children's Multidisciplinary PCOS Program brings together specialists from all over the hospital to provide holistic care for adolescents and young adults with PCOS. 

Learn more about pediatric endocrinology

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