Symptoms - Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS)

Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) is a common condition that affects how your ovaries work.

PMOS used to be called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

PMOS can impact your:

• hormones
• periods
• fertility
• long-term health

Symptoms of PMOS usually appear in your late teens or early 20s.

You may not experience all of the PMOS symptoms. How severe the symptoms are varies.

Symptoms of PMOS include:

• irregular periods
• no periods at all
• difficulty getting pregnant
• excess hair growth (hirsutism) - usually on your face, chest, back or bottom
• weight gain
• thinning hair and hair loss (alopecia)
• oily skin
• acne

Polycystic ovaries

Polycystic ovaries are slightly larger than normal ovaries and contain many follicles. Follicles are small fluid-filled sacs that release an egg when you ovulate.

In PMOS, these sacs are not usually able to release an egg. This means that you may not ovulate each month.

Many women have polycystic ovaries without having PMOS. Ovaries that look polycystic are normal in teenagers.

Fertility problems and PMOS

PMOS is one of the most common causes of fertility problems in women.

You may find out you have PMOS when you are trying for a baby.

If you have PMOS, you may have:

• irregular periods - your ovaries are not releasing an egg every month
• no periods at all - your ovaries are not releasing an egg at all

This means you might find it difficult to get pregnant.

Fertility problems

Health risks in the future

Having PMOS increases your chances of developing other health problems in the future.

For example, women with PMOS have a higher chance of developing:

• type 2 diabetes
• high blood pressure and high cholesterol - which can lead to heart disease and stroke
• depression and mood swings
• sleep apnoea
• weight gain
• endometrial cancer (womb cancer) - this is more likely if you carry excess weight and have irregular periods