From PCOS to PMOS: Why This Change Matters — and Is Long Overdue
A functional medicine perspective from Dabney Poorter, FNP-C, Founder of Restore + Revive
This is a topic that feels especially personal to me.
I see patients in our practice every week who are struggling with symptoms that have been brushed off, misunderstood, or reduced to something far too simplistic. And as a mom to young girls, this conversation matters to me on an even deeper level. I care not only about how we care for women now, but also about what kind of awareness and support the next generation will grow up with.
For years, PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) was the name many women were given for a slew of symptoms they were experiencing. But for a lot of patients, that label only captured the surface of what was really going on.
That is why this recent name change matters, and feels long overdue. The condition previously known as PCOS has now been renamed PMOS- polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome. The new name better reflects the full-body nature of what so many women have actually been experiencing all along. (The Lancet; Endocrine Society)
What PCOS “was”
PCOS was the term used for a condition often associated with:
Irregular or missing periods
Lack of ovulation
Elevated androgens (hormones that help regulate skin, hair, and reproductive health)
Acne and oily skin
Facial hair growth or scalp hair thinning
Fertility challenges
Insulin resistance
Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
The name PCOS never told the whole story. Many women diagnosed with PCOS did not have ovarian cysts, and cysts were never required for diagnosis in the first place. That mismatch has caused confusion for years. (WHO ; The Lancet)
Why the name changed to PMOS
This was not a random “rebrand” or thoughtless name change.
The name change came out of a 14-year international effort involving researchers, physicians, advocacy groups, and patients themselves. More than 50 organizations were involved, and more than 22,000 survey responses helped shape the outcome. It was driven by growing recognition that the old name was scientifically incomplete and often misleading. (Endocrine Society; The Lancet)
The new name matters because it reflects what this condition actually involves:
Polyendocrine: multiple hormone pathways are involved
Metabolic: insulin, blood sugar, weight, inflammation, and cardiometabolic health are often part of the picture
Ovarian: ovarian function still matters, but it is no longer presented as the whole story
In other words, this condition has always been about more than just ovaries. (University of Colorado Anschutz ; Endocrine Society)
What PMOS includes now
This is not a brand-new condition. It is a more accurate name for the condition many women have long known as PCOS.
For adults, diagnosis still generally involves meeting 2 out of 3 criteria after ruling out other causes:
Irregular or absent ovulation
Clinical or lab evidence of elevated androgens
Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound or elevated AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone)
For adolescents (10–19 years old), the criteria are more specific. Diagnosis requires:
Ovulatory dysfunction
Hyperandrogenism (an imbalance of androgens, or hormones that can affect skin, hair, and cycles)
That matters because cycle irregularity can be common early on, and we want to be thoughtful about over- or under-diagnosing younger girls. (The Lancet)
Why this matters for women and girls
One of the biggest issues with the old name is that it often led women to dismiss or question their own symptoms.
It made it easier to think:
“I do not have cysts, so maybe I do not have this.”
“Maybe this is only about fertility.”
“Maybe my skin, cycles, weight, fatigue, and hormones are all separate issues.”
But they often are not separate at all.
This condition can affect:
Hormone balance
Metabolism
Menstrual cycles
Ovulation
Skin and hair
Mood and mental health
Long-term cardiovascular risk
That is exactly why a broader, more accurate name matters.
PCOS Is on the Rise
This is not rare, and it is not something we should only start talking about in adulthood.
A closer look at the numbers:
It affects about 1 in 8 women worldwide, or roughly 10–13% of reproductive-aged women
Up to 70% of women may still be undiagnosed
It can begin as early as adolescence
Among adolescents and young women ages 10–24, one global analysis found incidence increased by 56.02% and prevalence increased by 58.55% from 1990 to 2021
A meta-analysis found adolescent prevalence estimates ranging from 3.39% to 11.04%, depending on the diagnostic criteria used
As a provider, that is something I pay close attention to. And as a mom to young girls, it makes this conversation feel even more important. We need earlier awareness, earlier support, and better conversations for younger generations.
Our functional medicine perspective on PMOS
While we embrace this updated name and the more accurate diagnostic framework, at Restore + Revive, we have been caring for patients with a “why is this happening?” approach since the day we opened our doors.
We do not just look at the label. We strive to look at the full picture and person sitting in front of us.
This often includes discussing and reviewing:
Hormone patterns
Insulin resistance and blood sugar swings
Inflammation
Nutrition
Sleep
Stress
Movement and muscle health
Gut health, when relevant
Long-term metabolic risk
For many women, the symptoms under this diagnosis are deeply connected. Most of the time, they involve some combination of hormones, metabolism, and lifestyle factors.
That is where a functional medicine approach can be so helpful. Instead of chasing symptoms one by one, we step back and ask what is driving the pattern in the first place. (WHO ; American Society for Reproductive Medicine)
What we want women and families to know
If you have been dealing with irregular cycles, acne, hair changes, weight resistance, fertility concerns, or signs of hormone and metabolic imbalance, please know this:
Your symptoms are worth paying attention to
This condition is about far more than ovaries
The old name did not always reflect the full reality of what many women were experiencing
And earlier support can make a real difference
We also know these symptoms are not limited to adults. At Restore + Revive, we have providers who care for both adults and adolescent patients, so we can support women as well as younger girls who may be starting to experience these patterns early.
Next Steps
If this resonates with your story, we would love to help.
At Restore + Revive, our goal is to offer care that is personalized, root-cause focused, and grounded in the understanding that hormone health, metabolic health, and lifestyle are all connected.
Call us at 817-720-6220 ext 2 to schedule an appointment and learn more.
About Dabney Poorter
Dabney Poorter, FNP-C (Family Nurse Practitioner-Certified), is the Founder of Restore + Revive and is passionate about helping patients feel their best through research-based, personalized care. With a background in kinesiology, nursing, nutrition, and integrative medicine, Dabney takes a whole-body approach that includes in-depth health history review, lab interpretation, nutrition support, supplement guidance, and medication management. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nutritionist, lifelong learner, and mom of two girls, she is deeply committed to equipping and empowering patients at every stage of their health journey.