Women with irregular periods should be checked for PMOS, NHS says | Health

As many as 4 million women with irregular periods should be examined for polyendocrine metabolic ovary syndrome, according to a new study. NHS guidance.

PMOS, previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome, up to 13% of women of reproductive ageAccording to World Health Organization estimates.

Symptoms include irregular, very short, long or absent menstrual periods, excessive testosterone levels and ovaries containing many small follicles.

This condition is associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, mental health problems, and pregnancy complications.

But the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) says PMOS is “often underdiagnosed and inconsistently managed” despite affecting 3 to 4 million women in the UK.

Nice’s new draft guidance covers girls over 10, as well as adult women, trans men and non-binary people who have not received gender reassignment therapy or surgery.

Patients with suspected PMOS should be offered blood tests, including male and female hormone levels, and in some cases ultrasound. The guidance states that PMOS should not be ignored in post-menopausal women or women with eating disorders that disproportionately affect people with PMOS.

PMOS may be more common among women of black, Asian and mixed ethnicity, and the guidance also says healthcare professionals should take this into account when assessing symptoms.

Once PMOS is diagnosed, people with PMOS should undergo an annual examination to monitor symptoms such as menstrual irregularities and excessive hair growth. Cardiovascular health, diabetes, obesity, mental health care, and other risks associated with PMOS should be discussed at the annual review.

The guidance also states that IVF should be offered to women with PMOS who meet the standard Nice criteria for IVF.

But they shouldn’t be offered laser hair removal or light treatments for excessive hair growth because analysis shows these are not cost-effective ways to improve overall health and well-being, Nice said. Nice estimates that making these treatments available to PMOS patients would cost the NHS in England up to £100 million a year.

The draft guidance is based on: international evidence-based guideline It is produced by Monash University and used by more than 100 countries.

Marieanne Ledingham, consultant clinical consultant in women’s and reproductive health at Nice, said: “PMOS is a common but often overlooked condition that can have a huge impact on health and wellbeing. Offering a simple annual review is an important step towards ensuring people get the ongoing care and monitoring they need.

“This new guidance will help improve consistency of care, raise awareness of the condition and support early diagnosis and management.”

Consultation on the draft guidelines will be open until 11 August 2026, with final guidelines planned to be published in December 2026.

Responding to the announcement, Oxford University researcher and author of an earlier study on menstrual pain in the Lancet said: Rachel Reid-McCann said: “Irregular periods are not only burdensome in the short term, they are also associated with long-term chronic health and reproductive consequences, making rapid investigation important.

“For those with irregular periods, a diagnosis of PMOS can provide access to treatment, support and advice that can help improve symptoms and also reduce long-term health risks.

“The challenge will be to ensure NHS services have the resources to implement these recommendations and to do so consistently across the UK.”

Janet Lindsay, chief executive of Wellbeing of Women, said: “For too long, women [PMOS] They have faced delays in diagnosis and inconsistent care. Often, symptoms like irregular periods, fertility difficulties, or weight concerns are dismissed as something they just have to live with.

“Women’s Welfare welcomes this Nice draft guideline; [PMOS] as a complex, lifelong condition that can affect reproductive health, mental well-being, and long-term health outcomes. The recommendation for regular review is an important step towards ensuring women receive the ongoing support, monitoring and information they need throughout their lives.

“It is particularly encouraging to see that the guidelines acknowledge ongoing disparities in diagnosis and care. Women from Black, Asian, and other minority communities may face additional barriers to investigation and diagnosis, and tackling these disparities is essential if everyone is to receive timely, evidence-based care.”