People with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) should have their condition diagnosed sooner and be offered an annual review to monitor symptoms, treatment and long-term health risks, according to our draft guideline published for public consultation today.
People with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) should have their condition diagnosed sooner and be offered an annual review to monitor symptoms, treatment and long-term health risks, according to draft our guideline published for public consultation today.
PMOS was until recently known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The new name better reflects the wide-ranging hormonal, metabolic and reproductive effects of the condition. These are comprehensively addressed in the draft guideline, the first on this condition tailored to a UK population.
PMOS is a lifelong condition characterised by irregular periods, high testosterone levels, and ovaries with multiple small follicles. Despite affecting around 1 in 8 women, PMOS is frequently under-diagnosed and inconsistently managed.
PMOS is also linked with a range of health risks, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, fatty liver disease, mental health problems and complications in pregnancy. Despite this, awareness and diagnosis rates remain lower than expected, meaning many people do not receive timely care.
Our draft guideline says an annual review should be offered to people diagnosed with PMOS and cover symptoms and signs such as menstrual irregularities and excess hair growth, medicines use, and risk of long-term conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease at a stage when lifestyle changes could help to prevent more serious illness.
To improve early diagnosis, the draft guideline makes detailed recommendations on when to suspect PMOS. It recommends that all people with irregular or absent menstrual cycles and symptoms or signs of excessive levels of male hormones should be investigated for PMOS because these are often linked to the condition.
It also says PMOS should not be discounted in women who have been through the menopause. PMOS may be more prevalent in women of Black, Asian and mixed ethnicity, and healthcare professionals should consider this when assessing symptoms.
Living with PMOS can have a significant impact on mental health and quality of life and the draft guideline highlights that depression and anxiety are common across all ages in people with the 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.
Excerpt from the official page. The original is authoritative. Continue reading at UK NICE ↗