The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance recommending that millions of women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) receive yearly NHS check-ups. The condition, previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), affects approximately one in eight women in the UK, yet often goes undiagnosed for years, increasing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, fertility problems, and poor mental health.
Annual Reviews to Monitor Lifelong Condition
Under the proposed guidance, women diagnosed with PMOS would be offered annual health reviews to monitor symptoms and detect early signs of related conditions, such as diabetes. This would allow doctors to recommend lifestyle changes before more serious illnesses develop. The draft guideline also includes detailed information on how to spot and diagnose PMOS to improve timely diagnosis, and advises that the condition may be more common among Black, Asian, and mixed-ethnicity women.
Sharon Mansfield, a committee member contributing to the draft guidance, shared her experience of having symptoms dismissed for a decade. She said, “It was so disheartening to be told, until I was finally diagnosed in my mid-30s, that my symptoms were just part of being a woman.” She hopes the new guidance will ensure the estimated 3-4 million women with PMOS in the UK are “taken seriously” much earlier.
Rebranding and Expanded Support
PMOS was rebranded from PCOS following a global effort to address misunderstandings and acknowledge the wide-ranging metabolic consequences affecting the entire body, not just the ovaries. The draft guidance builds on current NHS support, including advice for women planning a pregnancy on managing the condition and information about fertility treatment, such as IVF where appropriate.
Marie Anne Ledingham, consultant clinical advisor for women’s and reproductive health at NICE, said the annual review is an “important step” towards giving women access to ongoing care. She added, “PMOS is a common but overlooked condition that can have a major impact on health and wellbeing. This new guideline will help improve consistency of care, increase awareness of the condition and support earlier diagnosis and management.”
Consultation and Next Steps
NICE is inviting feedback from doctors, patients, and the public on the draft guideline during a consultation period from 1 July to 11 August 2026. The final guideline on PMOS is expected to be published in December 2026.
