Key Summary
- NICE recommends that people with PMOS should be offered yearly reviews.
- People with PMOS are targeted with many risks and conditions.
- The draft is open to consultation from 1 July to 11 August 2026.
People with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) should be offered a yearly review to monitor symptoms, treatment and long-term health risks, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)’s new draft guidance published on Wednesday (1).
The draft, the first in the UK specifically addressing this condition, is open for consultation from 1 July to 11 August 2026, and NICE is inviting feedback from healthcare professionals, patients and the public.
Previously called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the condition has been renamed to better reflect its broad hormonal, metabolic and reproductive impacts.
It is a lifelong condition characterised by irregular periods, high testosterone levels, and ovaries with multiple small follicles.
Although it affects about one in eight women, PMOS often goes undiagnosed and management varies widely.
NICE highlights that people with PMOS face elevated risks for several serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, mental health conditions and pregnancy complications.
The draft notes that the risk of PMOS remains present for women who have been through the menopause.
Women of Black, Asian and mixed ethnicity are at a greater risk of being diagnosed with PMOS. Healthcare professionals are advised to consider this when assessing symptoms.
Mental health & other effects of PMOS
Depression and anxiety are common across all ages in people with this condition.
Eating disorders also disproportionately affect people with PMOS and the draft guideline is clear the presence of these should not be dismissed solely on the basis of a person’s weight.
PMOS is linked with an increased risk of fertility problems and for those planning a pregnancy, advice on weight, diet, nutrition, exercise, sleep and mental health is recommended, reflecting the range of factors affecting reproductive outcomes.
People with PMOS are also likely to be at an increased risk of developing a number of other conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
It also addresses the management of common problems associated with PMOS such as acne, hirsutism (excessive hair) and obstructive sleep apnoea.
NICE expects to publish the final guideline on PMOS in December 2026.
