The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published draft guidance on polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS, saying people with the condition should be diagnosed sooner and offered an annual review to monitor symptoms, treatment and long-term health risks.
The draft, released for public consultation on 1 July 2026, reflects NICE’s effort to update care for a condition it says is often overlooked despite affecting around 1 in 8 women. PMOS was previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome, and NICE says the new name better captures its hormonal, metabolic and reproductive effects. NICE draft guidance
What the draft guidance changes
According to NICE, the proposed annual review would cover menstrual irregularities, excess hair growth, medicines use and the risk of longer-term conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The institute says earlier diagnosis is important because PMOS is linked with sleep apnoea, fatty liver disease, mental health problems and complications in pregnancy.
NICE also says healthcare professionals should investigate PMOS in people with irregular or absent menstrual cycles and signs of excess male hormones, and that the condition should not be dismissed in women who have been through the menopause. The draft adds that PMOS may be more prevalent in women of Black, Asian and mixed ethnicity.
Mental health and fertility are central to the plan
The guidance places strong emphasis on mental health, saying depression and anxiety are common across all ages among people with PMOS. It also notes that eating disorders disproportionately affect people with the condition and should not be dismissed solely on the basis of weight.
For people planning a pregnancy, NICE recommends advice on weight, diet, nutrition, exercise, sleep and mental health, while also setting out fertility treatment recommendations, including that IVF should be offered to those who meet the relevant access criteria.
Marie Anne Ledingham, consultant clinical advisor for women’s and reproductive health at NICE, said the draft guideline is intended to improve consistency of care, raise awareness and support earlier diagnosis and management. Sharon Manship, a lay member on the guideline committee, said she hoped the guidance would help people living with the condition get better ongoing support.
NICE says the draft consultation is open until 11 August 2026, with the final guideline expected in December 2026. The draft also states that laser and light therapies for hair reduction are not being recommended, with NICE estimating that adopting them could cost the NHS up to £100 million a year in England.
The move comes amid a wider push in UK health policy to improve long-term monitoring and reduce delays in care for conditions that can affect both physical and mental wellbeing. For patients and clinicians, the key test now will be whether the final guidance helps shorten the time to diagnosis and makes follow-up more consistent across the NHS.
