For years, many women have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS. They were told it explained their irregular periods, acne, weight changes, excess facial hair or challenges with fertility. But for many, the name never quite captured the full experience of living with the condition.

Today, there is a new name, Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). The change is more than a change of letters. It reflects a growing understanding that this is not simply an ovarian condition or a problem caused by “cysts.” The new terminology is intended to better reflect this wider impact and improve awareness, diagnosis and care.

And for the millions of women living with it, that recognition matters.

When your body doesn’t feel like your own

For 21-year-old Chiamaka, it began with irregular periods, acne and unwanted hair growth. She searched online for answers, only to find conflicting information.

For Tolu, 29, PMOS means arriving at work already exhausted, managing painful periods and attending medical appointments while still trying to meet the demands of a full-time job.

Amaka, 34, watched her symptoms affect not only her health but her business and emotional wellbeing. Nneka, 35, has had to navigate the additional pressure of questions about when she will have children.

Then there is Mrs. Bisi, 54, who spent decades experiencing symptoms without even having a name for what was happening to her.

Their stories are different, but they reveal that PMOS does not look the same for every woman.

Understanding this condition called PMOS?

PMOS is a long-term hormonal and metabolic condition that can affect ovulation, menstrual cycles, hormone levels and metabolism. It affects approximately one in eight women of reproductive age worldwide.

The word “polycystic” in the former name also created confusion. The ovarian structures associated with the condition are generally small follicles, not conventional ovarian cysts, and a woman does not need to have ovarian cysts to have the condition.

Know the signs

PMOS can present differently from woman to woman. Possible symptoms include:

• Irregular, infrequent or absent periods
• Heavy or prolonged periods
• Acne and oily skin
• Excess facial or body hair
• Thinning hair or hair loss
• Weight changes or difficulty managing weight
• Difficulty conceiving due to irregular ovulation
• Changes in blood sugar or insulin regulation
• Fatigue and mood changes

Having one or more of these symptoms does not automatically mean you have PMOS. Because symptoms can overlap with other conditions, proper medical assessment is important.

How to manage living with PMOS

PMOS is manageable, but management should be individualised according to a woman’s symptoms, health needs and reproductive goals.

• Start with understanding your body: Track your menstrual cycle and changes in symptoms. Don’t dismiss persistent changes as something you simply have to live with.
• Build sustainable healthy habits: Regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, adequate sleep and maintaining a healthy weight where appropriate can support hormonal and metabolic health. This is not about blaming women for their condition or pursuing extreme diets.
• Work with a healthcare professional: Depending on your symptoms and goals, treatment may include medication to regulate periods, manage hormonal symptoms, improve metabolic health or support fertility.
• Be cautious about quick fixes: As Ngozi’s experience shows, the promise of a supplement, herbal mixture or miracle “hormone-balancing” remedy can be tempting when you are desperate for answers. But not everything marketed as a PMOS solution is safe or effective. Always discuss new treatments or supplements with a qualified healthcare professional.
• Take your mental health seriously: The physical symptoms of PMOS can affect confidence, relationships, work, body image and emotional wellbeing. Feeling frustrated or overwhelmed does not mean you are failing.

The women whose stories inspired this article have reminded us why awareness matters. Chiamaka deserves to have questions answered. Tolu deserves understanding at work. Amaka deserves support as she rebuilds. Nneka deserves compassion, not interrogation. And Mrs. Bisi is right; young women deserve access to the information that many women before them never had.

This PMOS Awareness Month, let us do more than learn a new name. Let us listen to women’s bodies. Believe their experiences. Encourage them to seek help. Replace shame with understanding. And make sure no woman has to figure it all out alone!