PMOS Awareness Month

September is PMOS Awareness Month, and we want to take this opportunity to talk about this condition that can have an impact on both overall and reproductive health. 

What exactly is PMOS? 

PMOS stands for Polyendocrine-Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, and it’s the new term used for PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). The change was announced in May 2026 and later endorsed by the ASRM following an international consensus process that came from the evolving best understanding of what this condition really is. PMOS is not simply a disorder of the ovaries, and it is not really about having “cysts” on the ovaries. It is a way more complex condition involving hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive changes that can affect different systems throughout the body, which appears to be related to the presence of unusually high numbers of small growing ovarian follicles leading to hormonal dysregulation. Some women may primarily experience irregular menstrual cycles or problems with ovulation; others may have manifestations related to androgen excess, insulin resistance or other metabolic changes; while others experience immune issues. Additionally, this presents very variably from one woman to another. Therefore, the new term PMOS better reflects the complexity of the syndrome. 

As you can imagine, consequently, there are different relatively well-characterized phenotypes of PMOS, which brings me to the next question.  

What does it mean if I’ve been diagnosed with PMOS? What can I expect and what should my doctors be looking at? 

Your diagnosis is only the beginning; what really matters is understanding your individual profile. For this, your doctor may want to look at ovulation and menstrual patterns, androgen levels, glucose and insulin metabolism, lipid profile, body composition, blood pressure, and autoimmunity or other markers of immune dysfunction.  

What implications does PMOS really have for fertility? 

PMOS is one of the most common causes of ovulatory dysfunction and infertility, but having PMOS does not mean that you cannot become pregnant. In fact, many women with PMOS can conceive naturally or with relatively simple fertility treatments. 

The main fertility challenge is often delayed or absent ovulation, meaning that an egg may not be released when expected. However, PMOS can also affect the reproductive environment in other ways as a consequence of metabolic syndrome or autoimmunity, which are relevant not only for ovarian function but also for embryo implantation and pregnancy outcomes. 

What should I do if I have PMOS? 

Of course, firstly we need to understand your reproductive and metabolic health more comprehensively to develop an individualized treatment plan. The good news is that PMOS is treatable, and fertility can often be successfully managed as needed and, most of the time, there is very good reproductive prognosis with the appropriate guidance. 

So, this PMOS Awareness Month, we encourage you to be proactive about your health. 

If you’re interested in learning more about PMOS, check out our latest episode of The Egg Factor by visiting the link here.