The NHS has updated its guidance, recommending that up to 4 million women with irregular periods be screened for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). This condition is frequently underdiagnosed and inconsistently managed, prompting the fresh guidance to promote earlier detection and improved care.
Marieanne Ledingham, Consultant Clinical Advisor for Women’s and Reproductive Health at NICE, emphasized the importance of this change: “PMOS is a common but often overlooked condition that can significantly impact health and wellbeing. Instituting a simple, annual review ensures that individuals receive the ongoing care and monitoring they require.”
Supporting this perspective, Dr. Rachel Reid-McCann, a researcher from Oxford University who previously studied period pain published in The Lancet, noted: “Irregular periods can be both immediately burdensome and linked to long-term chronic health and reproductive issues. Early investigation is crucial. Receiving a PMOS diagnosis can open doors to treatment, advice, and support that alleviate symptoms and potentially mitigate future health risks.”
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Despite the benefits of the new guidelines, Dr. Reid-McCann cautioned that effective implementation depends on the NHS having sufficient resources to consistently apply these recommendations across the UK.
Janet Lindsay, Chief Executive of Wellbeing of Women, welcomed the draft NICE guidelines: “Women with PMOS have endured delays in diagnosis and inconsistent care for too long. Symptoms like irregular periods, fertility challenges, or weight concerns are often dismissed. Recognizing PMOS as a complex, lifelong condition affecting reproductive health, mental wellbeing, and long-term outcomes represents significant progress.”
Lindsay also highlighted the guidelines’ acknowledgement of persistent inequalities in diagnosis and care: “Women from Black, Asian, and other minoritized communities frequently face extra barriers to timely investigation and diagnosis. Addressing these disparities is vital to ensure equitable, evidence-based care for all.”