WOMEN with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) should be offered an annual review to monitor their symptoms, treatment, and long-term health risks, according to a new draft guideline from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Until May this year, PMOS was known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) but, following a 14-year global effort, the name was changed to combat missed diagnoses and inadequate treatment of the widely misunderstood condition.
The new name, NICE reported, better reflects the broad hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive pathways of the condition.
PMOS
PMOS affects around one in eight women, and is a lifelong condition characterised by irregular periods, high testosterone levels, and ovaries with multiple small follicles.
Despite its prevalence, the condition is frequently under-diagnosed and inconsistently managed, with many people not receiving timely care.
It is also linked to wider health risks, including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, fatty liver disease, mental health problems, and pregnancy complications.
Recommendations
NICE recommended that an annual review should be offered to people with a PMOS diagnosis, to assess symptoms such as menstrual irregularities, excess hair growth, medicines use, and risk of long-term conditions.
It also called for all people with irregular or absent menstrual cycles and symptoms of excessive levels of testosterone to be investigated for PMOS.
Further, the guidance said that PMOS should not be discounted in women who have been through menopause.
Recommendations also highlighted that PMOS may be more prevalent in women of Black, Asian, and Mixed ethnicity, which should be considered by healthcare professionals at symptom assessment.
The guidance noted the impact of PMOS on mental health and quality of life.
Depression and anxiety are common across all ages in people with PMOS and should not be dismissed solely because of the patient’s weight, NICE reported.
Fertility problems were also addressed in the guidelines, with advice on weight, diet, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mental health recommended for those planning a pregnancy.
There were also recommendations for fertility treatment, including that IVF should be offered to people who meet the access criteria.
Final Guideline
The draft guidance is open for consultation from 1st July to 11th August 2026 and NICE is inviting feedback from healthcare professionals, patients, and the public.
The final guideline on PMOS is set to be published in December 2026.
Reference
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. New draft PMOS guideline recommends annual review and could mean quicker diagnosis. 2026. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/news/articles/nice-recommends-annual-review-for-pmos-in-new-draft-guideline-aimed-at-improving-diagnosis-and-care. Last accessed: 2 July 2026.
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