I couldn’t let this month of September slip away without shining a spotlight on the fact that it is PMOS Awareness Month. PCOS ( polycystic ovary syndrome) is now known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome. It’s a mouthful I know! The name change is a huge step in the right direction and is actually super exciting…we’ll get into why in a bit.

If you aren’t familiar with it, PMOS is a condition rooted in hormonal dysregulation and metabolic imbalance. It impacts one in eight women of reproductive age (that’s 10-13% or 170 million women worldwide) and 70% of people with PMOS don’t get diagnosed! Pretty wild how common it is, while still relatively unknown and often misunderstood.

As a dietitian, I see firsthand how living with this condition impacts women’s relationship with food, energy levels, and overall well-being. I love clearing up misinformation and supporting clients in better understanding the condition and how it impacts their bodies.

Just like with perimenopause/menopause, another area I am passionate about helping clients with, there is a massive wave of medical misinformation and predatory wellness grifting targeting the PMOS community. On social media and online I see all kinds of information about PMOS that is frankly just wrong…you must eat dairy free and gluten free, you have to cut out all carbs…ALL NONSENSE!

In fact, a client I just met with recently told me that a health professional told her, and I quote, “potatoes, you have to be done with potatoes!” FALSE!

This is one of the things I love about my job as an evidence-based Registered Dietitian. I help clients cut through the crap when it comes to caring for their bodies so they can actually put into practice what we know is most helpful, no restrictive diets or extreme approaches necessary.

I believe knowledge is power and knowing the facts about PMOS and approaching nutrition and lifestyle from a science-backed perspective is key. I think the more informed we are, the better we can take care of ourselves and quiet the fear that can come from this or any diagnosis.

No matter if you have been living with this condition for years, were just diagnosed, or have a friend or loved one with the condition, staying up to date on how to manage it is super important.

Last year, before the name change, for Awareness Month I wrote about 5 Ways to Manage PCOS Without Dieting. It’s a good one if you are looking for practical ways to manage PMOS, no restriction required.

This year I thought I would highlight three updated things to know about the condition. So here we go…

#1 It Has a Brand New Name

In May of this year (2026) it became official that PCOS – polycystic ovary syndrome – was renamed as PMOS – polyendrocrine metabolic syndrome.

The old name was long considered misleading. It created a narrow focus entirely on “ovarian cysts”—which are actually just immature follicles, not true cysts. Even more confusingly, many people with the condition don’t have these follicles at all! This in turn served to pigeon hole it as a solely reproductive or gynecological issue and diminish its complexity. As a result diagnoses were missed and treatment was inadequate or nonexistent, leaving women without answers for their very real symptoms and putting them at risk for long-term health implications of an untreated condition.

This new, more updated name serves to better represent the full-body experience of a person living with the condition and highlights the multiple organ systems that may be involved. PMOS impacts many parts of the body including hormones, metabolism, mental health, skin, and the reproductive system. Not all women with PMOS experience it in the same way. Symptoms vary from mild to more acute. Recognizing this and treating it individually is so important.

The new name was developed through global involvement that included 56 patient organizations and societies worldwide. The change was driven by 22,000 survey responses and multiple workshops of health care professionals and women with lived experience. The largest global engagement in a condition name change process in history.

Women shared their views on whether a new name was needed, what the new name should and should not include, and how best to communicate the change. Women’s voices about their lived experience with the condition were asked for and heard, which in large part drove the much needed name change. So cool!

One of the other coolest things about the name change is that it is thoughtfully designed to change how medical professionals, as well as researchers and women with the condition conceptualize the condition. The intent is that this more accurate label will change how both clinicians and patients think about it and how it impacts women’s health. Increased accuracy of the name, hopefully will mean improved care and more focused research, ultimately helping women live better while living PMOS.

#2 It is a Full-Body Metabolic Condition, Not Just a Fertility or “Period Problem”

The shift in the new name to include the terms “polyendocrine” and “metabolic” is very intentional and serves to validate that this condition is a lifelong, systemic metabolic condition, not just one about getting pregnant or missing periods.

Although irregular periods are a primary sign, the underlying hormonal imbalance impacts the entire body. As mentioned, it affects metabolic function, cardiovascular health, skin, as well as mental and emotional well-being.

By recognizing it as a multi-system metabolic disorder, the focus is being shifted toward better protecting long-term health—including reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular health issues and caring for patients.

Also, a myth among many has been that birth control is the only or primary treatment for PMOS. The truth is that while hormonal contraceptives help manage irregular cycles and acne, treatment needs to be highly individualized. Management plans should include targeted nutrition, physical activity, insulin-sensitizing medications like metformin, as well as fertility support if needed, although not all women who have PMOS struggle with fertility.

#3 Nutrition and Lifestyle Changes Remains a Cornerstone of Managing PMOS

While the name has changed, the core strategies for managing symptoms have not. In fact, the new name reinforces why nutrition and lifestyle modifications are so incredibly important and can be super powerful.

Due to the varying symptoms and multi-system nature of the condition, a generic, restrictive diet is not the answer. Individualized nutrition therapy and lifestyle changes are foundational to managing and thriving with PMOS.

Managing PMOS from a nutritional standpoint means focusing on:

• Blood Sugar Balance and Targeting Insulin Resistance: Pairing complex carbohydrates with high-quality proteins and healthy fats to stabilize insulin levels.
• Reducing Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation: Incorporating an antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory pattern of eating from an add-in perspective instead of dieting and restriction. Awareness of inflammatory lifestyle choices and making shifts in those. 
• Nourishing, Not Punishing: PMOS is statistically associated with a higher risk of disordered and binge eating, often driven by “fad” diets and extreme restriction, Instead, moving toward consistent, satisfying meals that meat your body’s needs. 
• Supplementation: Evidence-informed recommendations for targeted micronutrient and herbal support. 
• Sleep, Stress, & Movement: Managing all three can help to mitigate symptoms, regulate hormone levels, and improve overall health. Small changes made over time work best. 

The Bottom Line

In my humble opinion, the renaming from PCOS to PMOS is a massive win for patient care and the long-term health of women. It means your symptoms are finally being looked at through a whole-body lens. You are not just a set of ovaries; your metabolic health, energy, and mental health and well-being matter.

Please share this piece with someone you think might enjoy or benefit from it.

If you have PMOS and want to better understand and care for your body and need compassionate support, reach out. I would love to help.