MG
M.G
Founder, editorial lead
Documentary synthesis from 2023-2026 international guidelines. No conflict of interest with the pharmaceutical industry.
PCOS has a new international name since May 2026
Understanding and living with PCOS / PMOS
Identify your phenotype in 4 minutes · Decode your lab results · ESHRE 2023 guidelines · Free tools
Phenotype
A, B, C or D? Find your Rotterdam profile
Symptoms
Cycles, androgens, insulin, PCOM
2026 Research
Retatrutide, tirzepatide, microbiome, inositol
Myths busted
PCOS ≠ obesity · ≠ infertility · ≠ lifelong
~4 minutes · No registration · Your answers stay in your browser.
1 in 8
women
affected
70 %
un-
diagnosed
3-5 yrs
avg. time to
diagnosis
Interactive demo
What happens in your cycle
Visualize in real time the difference between a normal cycle and a PCOS cycle — and understand why LH and FSH hormones play a central role.
Animated hormone cycle
Visualize the difference between a normal cycle and a PCOS/PMOS cycle
LHFSHEstradiolProgesterone
You are not alone
1 in 8
women worldwide, ~170 million (Endocrine Society, 2026)
0 %
remain undiagnosed (WHO, 2023)
3-5 yrs
average time to diagnosis (Monash, 2023)
~0 %
report regular brain fog (JCEM, 2023)
Detailed sources: scientific sources
What readers say
“The hormone chart finally helped me understand why my cycles are so irregular. I showed it to my doctor and she said it was a perfect starting point.”
“I used the doctor prep tool before my appointment and for the first time I felt truly heard. My GP actually read the whole summary I printed.”
“Four years with PCOS without understanding what was happening. This site explained everything in plain language with real scientific references.”
Reader testimonials · Names abbreviated for privacy
Tools
Four essential tools, no sign-up
Your answers stay in your browser. No account needed. Everything downloads as a PDF you can take to your doctor.
My PCOS / PMOS summary
A 7-step guided journey to prepare a clear summary of your situation, ready to share with your doctor.
- ~10 minutes
- Print-ready PDF
Letter for my doctor
A structured one-page PDF in 5 minutes — symptoms, labs, treatments tried. Your doctor reads it in 30 seconds.
- ~5 minutes
- Download PDF
Symptom checker
12 questions to spot the most common signs — not a diagnosis, but a basis for discussion with your clinician.
- ~3 minutes
- Instant result + PDF
HOMA-IR calculator
Your insulin-resistance index from fasting glucose and insulin, with a cautious interpretation panel.
- ~30 seconds
- Score + interpretation
The renaming
Why a new name?
35
1935
First description
Stein and Leventhal describe the syndrome in 7 women.
90
1990
NIH consensus
First formal diagnostic criterion.
03
2003
Rotterdam criteria
3 ESHRE/ASRM criteria. 4 phenotypes (A, B, C, D).
23
2023
International guideline
Monash + ESHRE update: AMH can replace ultrasound.
26
2026
PMOS renaming
The Lancet + Endocrine Society + 56 organizations: Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome.
For decades, this syndrome was reduced to a problem of “polycystic ovaries.” Yet many people affected do not actually have true cysts, and primarily experience hormonal, metabolic, skin-related, psychological, and fertility-related symptoms.
On 12 May 2026, an international consensus published in The Lancet, led by the Endocrine Society and the team at Monash University, officially introduced a new name: PMOS — Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome.
According to the Endocrine Society, this syndrome affects approximately 1 in 8 women — over 170 million people worldwide. The WHO estimates its prevalence at 10–13% of women of reproductive age, with up to 70% still undiagnosed.
The new name finally puts the whole body at the centre: hormones, metabolism, ovaries — and everyday lived experience.
What changes
- → Official name: PMOS (EN) / SMOP (FR)
- → Recognition of the metabolic and endocrine nature
- → More accurate vocabulary (follicles ≠ cysts)
What doesn't change
- → Diagnostic criteria (Rotterdam, updated 2023)
- → Available treatments
- → Insurance coverage and care
Phenotype quiz
Which PCOS/PMOS profile are you? A, B, C or D?
12 questions based on the Rotterdam 2003 criteria and the ESHRE 2023 guideline. Know your phenotype to better guide your doctor conversation.
Take the phenotype quiz
~4 minutes · Anonymous · Instant result
Topics
10 topics to understand your journey
PCOS / PMOS affects far more than ovaries. Here are the main chapters explained without jargon, with official sources.
Featured topic
A/B/C/D phenotype quiz
In 9 questions, identify your Rotterdam type — useful to guide the discussion with your doctor.
Read more →Featured topic
What is PMOS?
A short definition — symptoms, Rotterdam criteria, prevalence.
Read more →Featured topic
The 2026 renaming
Why PCOS became PMOS — the Endocrine Society + Lancet decision of May 12, 2026.
Read more →Featured topic
PCOS myths
10 myths busted: the pill, fertility, food, miracle treatments.
Read more →Insulin resistance
The central metabolic mechanism — present in ~70% of cases. Understand and measure.
Read more →Fertility
Irregular cycles, ovulation, pregnancy journey — what the international guideline says.
Read more →Skin, hair growth, hair loss
Acne, hirsutism, hair loss — why, and which approaches are validated.
Read more →Mental health
Anxiety, depression, brain fog — the often-forgotten dimension of the diagnosis.
Read more →Diet
No miracle diet — validated approaches and pitfalls to avoid.
Read more →Treatments
Metformin, pill, anti-androgens, inositols — what works, for whom, for what goal.
Read more →Research & Updates
Latest research · May 2026
NEWSTUDYSTUDYSTUDYTRENDING
Tirzepatide in PCOS: real-world weight loss matches women without PCOS
UK cohort of 4,241 women with self-reported PCOS: −19.4% mean body weight at 10 months, statistically no different from women without PCOS.
19 August 2026 · Clift AK et al., Journal of the Endocrine Society, 19 August 2026 (PMID 42634795)
Gestational diabetes in PCOS pregnancies: pooled prevalence 24%
Meta-analysis of 22 studies and 5,507 women with PCOS: about one pregnancy in four develops gestational diabetes; HOMA-IR is the strongest associated factor.
17 July 2026 · Yuan Y et al., Frontiers in Endocrinology, 17 July 2026 (PMID 42539429)
PCOS and breast cancer: 18 studies reviewed, association modest and still unsettled
Systematic review of 18 studies: a possible modest increase in breast cancer risk, mainly before menopause, but the evidence stays heterogeneous and inconclusive.
20 June 2026 · Costanzi F et al., European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 20 June 2026 (PMID 42335748)
Adding tirzepatide to metformin in PCOS: first randomised results, 16 weeks
Open-label RCT in 60 overweight women with PCOS: −10.4 kg with metformin + tirzepatide 5 mg versus −1.7 kg with metformin alone, plus better cycle recovery.
3 June 2026 · Yang Z et al., Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 3 June 2026 (PMID 42236268)
PERIODS: the first dedicated tirzepatide trial in PCOS is recruiting
University of Bonn, phase 4, 198 participants, placebo-controlled — primary outcome is menstrual regularity, not weight.
9 December 2025 · ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07326111 (University of Bonn), recruiting since 9 December 2025
All studies come from peer-reviewed journals (The Lancet, JCEM, ESHRE).
See all 2026 studiesAction plan
Your 90-Day PCOS Plan
A visual roadmap for your first three months — always adapt with your doctor.
1
Month 1
Full workup
→Full bloodwork (glucose, insulin, androgens, TSH)
→Confirm diagnosis with your gynaecologist or endocrinologist
→Start Metformin or Inositol as prescribed
2
Month 2
Adjust treatment
→Adjust treatment based on tolerance and results
→Switch to a low-GI diet (less processed carbs, more fibre)
→150 min/week of moderate exercise (walking, swimming, cycling)
3
Month 3
Re-evaluation
→Follow-up appointment — check bloods against baseline
→Optimize for your goals: fertility, cycle regularity, or skin
→Set a long-term strategy with your care team
This plan is a reference guide only — it does not replace personalised medical advice.
Our commitment
No health data collected
Your answers stay in your browser. Nothing is saved server-side by default.
No miracle promises
No “natural cures.” No supplements to sell. Just sourced, honest information.
Transparent sources
Endocrine Society, WHO, NIH, Monash 2023 guideline. All referenced.
Who writes
Editorial team
Content is synthesized from international clinical guidelines (Monash 2023, Endocrine Society, ESHRE). It is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
PV
Patient reviewers
Review community
Patient-journey pages are reviewed by women living with PMOS before publication.
Credibility
Primary scientific sources
Endocrine Society
Official renaming announcement
The Lancet
International consensus May 12, 2026
Monash University
2023 guideline coordination
World Health Organization
Prevalence and criteria
NIH · CDC · ACOG
US clinical guidance
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Take action
You understand the context now.
Now build your file in 10 minutes — it will join you at the doctor's office and save you from re-explaining everything.
Prepare my appointment~ 10 minutes · No sign-up · Printable PDF ready
Important. This site provides general information and preparation tools. It does not diagnose anything and does not replace a medical consultation. If you have unusual or worrying symptoms, consult a healthcare professional.