From PCOS to PMOS: A Journey in Understanding my Hormonal Health

For years, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) was a label that felt both familiar and frustratingly vague. It was a diagnosis that explained some of my symptoms but never truly captured the full scope of what I was experiencing. Like many, I navigated a landscape of confusion, trying various approaches to manage a condition I didn’t fully grasp. I was diagnosed when I was 17, told I might have trouble having children and told to go on the pill (eye roll). It wasn’t until my mid-30s, when I decided to take my hormonal health into my own hands, that I finally understood doctors didn’t actually really know very much about this condition. It was more about prescribing the band aid (contraceptive pill) than about getting to the root cause. This journey of self-discovery has been profoundly illuminated by a recent, significant shift in the medical understanding of this condition: the renaming of PCOS to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). It feels like perhaps things are starting to shift in women’s health. 

The Early Years: A Puzzle Without All the Pieces

My experience with PCOS began much like many others – a constellation of symptoms that were often dismissed or treated in isolation. Irregular cycles, stubborn weight fluctuations, inflammation and a general sense of hormonal imbalance were my constant companions. By my mid 30s, these symptoms were ruling my life. So I decided to ignore the doctors and search for my own answers. I worked with a PCOS nutritionist, I learnt about the power of supplements, I changed my exercise routine (opting for pilates, strength training and yoga rather than HITT) and made sure I did 10,000 steps a day. I tracked my cycle, monitored my basal body temperature, and even experimented with seed cycling. I gave up alcohol, cut back on caffeine, and embraced meditation. I cleaned up my morning and bedtime routine and I let go of relationships that made me feel like crap. All of this did do wonders, it reversed my chronic PCOS condition to a mild form. But it was only through being determined to find my own answers (I never went on the pill) that I was able to finally work with the body I have, rather than against it. The missing piece of the puzzle was deep somatic work, allowing my nervous system to expand its capacity, to let myself feel safe in my own skin. I moved abroad, where there was sunshine and a slower pace of life. Bingo. 

PMOS: A Name That Finally Fits

The recent decision by global experts to rename Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) is more than just a change in terminology; it’s a profound shift in how we understand and approach this complex condition . For too long, the name PCOS inadvertently narrowed the focus to the ovaries and the presence of cysts, often leading to misconceptions and fragmented care. As someone who lived with the diagnosis for years, I can attest to how this limited perspective often overshadowed the broader systemic issues at play. The amount of times I went to the doctor crying over my missing period, or my debilitating symptoms and was met with ‘go on the pill and lose weight’. They didn’t seem to understand that PCOS made weight loss incredibly difficult and the pill only masked my symptoms rather than addressing why I was experiencing them. Duh. 

The new name, PMOS, seems like there is finally an understanding of how debilitating this condition can be. That it extends far beyond just the reproductive organs – the ovaries. The term “Polyendocrine” highlights the involvement of multiple endocrine glands and hormonal imbalances, while “Metabolic” underscores the strong link to metabolic dysfunction, such as insulin resistance, which is a key driver for many PMOS symptoms . Crucially, the renaming also clarifies that ovarian cysts are not a universal or even defining symptom for everyone with the condition, addressing a long-standing source of confusion and misdiagnosis .

For me, this renaming felt like a validation of my own journey. In my mid-30s, as I delved deeper into understanding my body, I began to realize that my hormonal challenges weren’t just about my ovaries. They were intricately connected to my metabolism, my stress response, and a cascade of other endocrine functions. The shift to PMOS perfectly encapsulates this holistic understanding, moving away from a purely gynecological perspective to one that acknowledges the full-body impact of the condition.

Taking Control: Beyond the Ovaries

My personal journey to the true nature of my condition coincided with this broader medical re-evaluation. I realized that my previous attempts to manage PCOS were often like trying to fix a complex machine by only looking at one part. It was only when I started to consider the interconnectedness of my entire endocrine and metabolic system that I began to see real, sustainable changes. This involved:

• Understanding Insulin Resistance: Recognising insulin resistance as a central component of PMOS was a game-changer. It helped me understand why certain dietary approaches worked better than others and why managing blood sugar was paramount, regardless of my weight.

•Stress and the HPA Axis: I learned about the profound impact of chronic stress on my Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and its downstream effects on my hormones. This led me to prioritize stress management techniques, not as a luxury, but as a fundamental pillar of my hormonal health.

•Holistic Body Awareness: Moving beyond just symptoms, I started to cultivate a deeper awareness of my body’s signals, understanding that everything from my energy levels to my mood and digestion were part of the larger hormonal picture. This holistic approach allowed me to tailor my lifestyle choices to support my body’s overall well-being, rather than just targeting individual symptoms.

This journey of taking my hormonal health into my own hands, driven by a more comprehensive understanding of my body, has been transformative. The renaming of PCOS to PMOS is a critical step forward for millions of women worldwide, and I hope it is a promise of improved diagnosis, more integrated care, and a clearer path to understanding and managing this complex condition. It validates the experiences of those of us who knew there was more to our story than just “polycystic ovaries” and empowers us to advocate for a truly holistic approach to our health.