(Illustration by Meredith Michael Smith, University Communications)
Following an “unprecedented, rigorous, multistep global consensus process,” world experts have renamed polycystic ovary syndrome to better reflect its wide-ranging effects on upward of 200 million women each year.
The condition is now called “polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome,” or PMOS, to better reflect the range of symptoms patients face. The change was published this month in The Lancet, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals.
UVA Health gynecologist Dr. Dana Redick discusses polycystic ovarian syndrome, its new name and how patients can get relief.
Q. What is polycystic ovarian syndrome?
A. PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome, has been around for a while. These are the three features that define PCOS. The first is oligomenorrhea. That’s when you have your periods less frequently. The second feature of PCOS is signs of elevated androgen levels, and this manifests with hard-to-control acne, excessive hair growth, sometimes hair in a male pattern. The third feature, the one for which the syndrome gets its name, is ovaries with multiple cysts on them. So, to get the diagnosis, you have to have at least two of those three criteria.
Dr. Dana Redick teaches and sees patients at UVA Midwifery. (Contributed photo)
Q. Why is the name changing?
A. The reason we changed the name is we know women who had PCOS seem to have higher rates of diabetes. They have higher rates of thyroid dysfunction. They really struggle with weight loss, too. When you talk to these folks, they describe what they’re doing. They’re doing everything right, and they’re really struggling with losing weight. This is a broader diagnosis. The ovaries are not the cause. This is something that affects every part of your body.
Q. What causes PMOS?
A. I wish I knew.
Q. When are patients typically diagnosed?
A. It’s very common when women start their cycles. It’s usually teenagers. But sometimes people can be older.
Maybe they got started on birth control pills for contraception, and their periods were regulated by the birth control pill, and it’s not until they stop them and try to get pregnant that they realize that their periods are off.
The other thing is PMOS can be affected by weight changes. So, you might have someone who is pretty athletic and fit in their teenage years, and then as they gain weight, the features of PMOS become a little more prominent.
Q. How common is the condition?
A. PMOS is the most common reason that we see people with anovulation (when you don’t get regular periods). We talk about anywhere from 7% to 10% of people getting diagnosed with PMOS.
Q. How do you treat PMOS?
A. The first-line treatment for young folks who are not interested in getting pregnant would be birth control pills. Birth control pills are convenient because they also give a nice, predictable period. One of the things that we (also) talk about is nutritional intervention, exercise and getting to the right weight.
Q. Can patients feel better with treatment?
A. Absolutely. I’ve seen a lot of people with the GLP-1s and the weight-loss success that they’ve seen. The symptoms of their PMOS improve. People who have been really struggling with weight loss and they feel like, “Oh my gosh, this really was the thing that helped me get where I needed to be.”
University News Senior Associate Office of University Communications
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