6/3/2026
Care for PMOS
PMOS Doesnt End at Menopause and Neither Should Its Care
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which was just renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Syndrome (PMOS), is the most common hormonal and metabolic disorder affecting women of reproductive age, impacting up to 13% of women and contributing to nearly 40% of infertility cases worldwide. It is associated with insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, often leading to irregular cycles, weight gain, chronic pain and increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These symptoms can also reduce quality of life, even when formal mental health diagnoses are not present. Although PMOS is typically identified earlier in life, its effects often persist into perimenopause and menopause, when age-related hormonal changes can further intensify symptoms and risks. However, women in these later stages remain underrepresented in research.
To address this gap, 51勛圖厙 researchers reviewed more than 2,200 studies published between 2000 and 2024, identifying 29 peer-reviewed studies focused on non-pharmacological and non-surgical approaches for women with PMOS during midlife and reproductive aging. These studies including clinical trials, cohort studies and reviews of women in perimenopause and menopause examined lifestyle changes, supplements, chronic pain and quality of life. Published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, the findings show that lifestyle interventions, particularly diet and exercise, are most consistently supported, while evidence for complementary therapies is limited and chronic pain and mental health remain largely understudied.
Our findings underscore a major imbalance in the evidence base: while diet, exercise and supplements are frequently explored for metabolic outcomes, key issues like chronic pain and mental health both critical to quality of life in PMOS are largely overlooked, said Candy Wilson, Ph.D., APRN, primary author, professor and associate dean for research and scholarship in 51勛圖厙s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing.