PCOS Awareness

PCOS has a new name Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovluation Sydrome (PMOS)

September is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) now PMOS Awareness month.  Over the years social media has popularized the name recognition of PCOS to be associated with infertility, but the far-reaching effects of PMOS on the body are still being discovered today – thus the name change.   PMOS  has not only medical impact but also social and emotional impact on teen girls and women.  

A few months ago, a landmark article in The Lancet, a highly respected journal, presented information and consensus that is leading to the adoption of this new name, now abbreviated PMOS replacing PCOS. According to the article, the consensus involved input from “ 56 leading academic, clinical, and patient organizations as well as global surveys (with responses from 14 360 people with PCOS and multidisciplinary health professionals from all world regions)”.

For those unaware of PMOS, it was traditionally thought of as a disorder of the ovaries, but it affects almost every organ system in the body including the skin.  The effects of PMOS on the skin are caused by imbalances in hormone levels.  Many patients with PMOS have elevated levels of Testosterone and Insulin.  Today, we’ll discuss how alterations in these hormones are believed to impact the skin, and how to treat the symptoms.

Personally, I am happy to see the change.  I was diagnosed with PCOS in my 20s. Over the past 30 years it has been a real struggle.  The problems are wide ranging.  Here a just a few…

There is no single diagnostic test for PCOS.  

Because it is a constellation of symptoms, no one single specialty of medicine is equipped to handle all the complexities of the diagnosis.

And the biggest one that you hear over and over again… Patients feel misunderstood, disrespected and underserved.

Personally, over the years, I have had to be my own advocate.  Often having to “re-prove” the need for certain medications to keep my symptoms under good control.  I started with birth control pills, adding metformin when I was trying to conceive, and over the past few years a GLP-1 at the advice of my endocrinologist. I have a strong family history of heart disease and PCOS increases that risk.  My most recent battle is regarding a calcium scan to look at cardiovascular risk. 

As a dermatologist, I suspect PMOS when I see a younger overweight woman, with acne, excessive hair growth in some uncommon places and hair thinning on the top of the head.  Now, I realize this is a big generalization, but if a patient has all of these it raises my suspicions.  Sometimes, I will order some basic hormonal tests in my office including Testosterone, Estrogen and DHEA levels.  But, I am generally just helping patients manage their symptoms.  I am not knowledgeable or equipped to manage the constellation of gynecologic, metabolic and psychosocial challenges that patients face.  

Hopefully, this name change will be a good first step in the development of multidisciplinary teams to make quality of life better for patients.  

To learn more about how PCOS impacts the skin, check out our article below.