Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as PCOS

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) and why this changed from PCOS

In May 2026, a landmark global consensus published in The Lancet  officially renamed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). The old name was highly misleading because the condition does not cause actual ovarian cysts, nor is it strictly a gynaecological issue.

The updated term, PMOS, accurately reflects a systemic, multi-system hormonal and metabolic disorder. Driven by insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation, PMOS causes the body to produce elevated androgens, which continuously trigger facial and body hair growth (hirsutism).

Chronic low-grade inflamation is a continuous, long-term state of mild inflammation throughout the body. It does not cause immediate, obvious symptoms, but it slowly disrupts normal body functions over time.

To break this down simply:

• Chronic: It is a long-lasting, persistent subclinical condition (lasting months or years), unlike "acute" inflammation (such as the temporary swelling, redness, and pain you get from a cut or a sprained ankle).
• Low-grade: It is mild but persistent beneath the surface. It isn't severe enough to make you feel acutely sick or show up as a raging infection, but it keeps the body's immune system on a constant, low-level alert.
• Inflammation: The body's immune response. In this context, instead of healing an injury, the immune system is mistakenly releasing low levels of inflammatory chemicals into the bloodstream.

In the context of PMOS, this constant, low-level immune stress works together with insulin resistance to disrupt how the body handles hormones and metabolism, driving the progression of the condition.

This condition is far more common than people think, yet it is rarely talked about openly. Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) is a full-body hormonal and metabolic condition that impacts 1 in 8 people, affecting over 3.1 million women and girls in the UK and more than 170 million worldwide. Despite its massive scale, the condition remains intensely hidden, leaving up to 70% of affected individuals globally completely undiagnosed.

Facial hair and hormonal changes

Hormonal shifts alter follicle size, driving facial hair growth. Elevated hormones (androgens like testosterone and DHT) bind to receptors, triggering a biological change that transforms fine, invisible 'vellus' hairs into thick, coarse 'terminal' hairs.

Once hair reaches the full terminal stage, the change is permanent; blocking androgens or undergoing HRT is unlikely to reduce existing growth. Permanent removal requires destroying the hair's papilla and bulge. Electrolysis offers the perfect long-term solution to manage this unwanted hair, particularly for clients managing PMOS.

Click here for a deep dive into the Science of Androgenic hair growth and its relationship with PMOS

Our PMOS Frequently asked questions page can be seen here