PMOS Symptoms: Full Checklist (Formerly PCOS Symptoms)

PMOS symptoms are PCOS symptoms under the new name. In May 2026 a global consensus renamed polycystic ovary syndrome polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), because the condition is driven by hormones and metabolism, not cysts. The main symptoms are irregular or missing periods, acne, excess facial or body hair, scalp hair thinning, weight gain around the middle, insulin-resistance signs like cravings and energy crashes, and higher rates of anxiety and depression. You do not need all of them, and many people have only two or three.

It affects about 1 in 8 women worldwide (The Lancet, 2026). Why the name changed is covered in PCOS is now PMOS; this page is the symptom checklist.

PMOS symptoms by body system

The Lancet consensus describes PMOS features as reproductive, metabolic, dermatological, and psychological. Here is what that looks like day to day.

1. Cycle and ovulation (the “ovarian” part)

• Periods more than 35 days apart, fewer than 8 a year, or none for months
• Very unpredictable cycles, or cycles under 21 days
• Heavy or prolonged bleeding after a long gap
• Ovulation tests that never clearly peak, or that look positive for days (how to track ovulation with PCOS)
• Trouble getting pregnant, which is often the reason people first get diagnosed

2. Androgen-related skin and hair (the “polyendocrine” part)

• Coarse dark hair on the chin, upper lip, jaw, neck, chest, or belly (hirsutism)
• Persistent adult acne, especially along the jaw, chin, and back
• Thinning hair at the crown or a widening part (PCOS hair loss)
• Oily skin

3. Metabolic (the “metabolic” part the old name hid)

• Weight gain around the waist, or finding weight very hard to lose
• Strong sugar or carb cravings and energy crashes an hour or two after meals
• Dark, velvety skin patches on the neck, armpits, or groin (acanthosis nigricans)
• Skin tags
• High fasting glucose, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes
• High triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, or high blood pressure
• Fatty liver (MASLD) and sleep apnea

The updated 2023 guideline summary notes that insulin resistance is present in about 85% of people with the condition, including many who are not overweight. That is why “lean PCOS” exists (lean PCOS) and why food and activity changes help symptoms even without weight loss. More on that in PCOS insulin resistance.

4. Mental health and well-being

• Anxiety and depression, which are more common with PMOS
• Disordered eating and a difficult relationship with food or body image
• Low self-esteem linked to hair, skin, or weight
• Poor sleep and daytime fatigue

The guideline recommends screening for these at diagnosis, not waiting for someone to bring them up. See PCOS and mental health.

Symptoms by life stage

Life stage	What usually shows up	Notes
Teens	Acne, irregular cycles, early hair growth	Irregular cycles are normal for 1-3 years after the first period, so teens need both irregular cycles and high androgens to be diagnosed, and ultrasound is not used (PCOS in teens)
20s-30s	Irregular periods, fertility problems, weight changes, hirsutism	Often diagnosed when trying to conceive or coming off the pill (post-pill PCOS)
Pregnancy	Higher risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure	Worth telling your obstetric team about the diagnosis
40s and later	Cycles may become more regular; metabolic and heart risks matter more	Keep up glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure checks

Quick self-check

Count how many of these apply to you:

• My periods are usually more than 35 days apart, or I have fewer than 8 a year
• I have coarse dark hair on my chin, lip, chest, or belly
• I have persistent acne or scalp hair thinning as an adult
• I have strong cravings or crashes after meals, or dark velvety skin patches
• A parent or sibling has PCOS/PMOS or type 2 diabetes

If you ticked the first box plus one of the next two, it is worth asking about PMOS. For a guided version, take the free Do I have PCOS? quiz; it turns your answers into a checklist for your appointment. It is not a diagnosis.

How PMOS is diagnosed (unchanged)

Adults are diagnosed when 2 of these 3 are present, after other causes are ruled out:

1. Irregular or absent ovulation
2. High androgens, on bloodwork or as symptoms like hirsutism
3. Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound, or a high AMH level

Symptom you have	What a clinician may check
Irregular or missing periods	Pregnancy test, TSH, prolactin, FSH and LH; sometimes a progesterone test to confirm ovulation
Hair growth, acne, hair thinning	Total or free testosterone, SHBG, 17-OHP (to rule out non-classic CAH)
Cravings, weight around the middle, dark skin patches	Oral glucose tolerance test or HbA1c, fasting lipids, blood pressure
Snoring, waking unrefreshed	Sleep apnea screening
Low mood or anxiety	Mental health screening questions

Full detail: how PCOS is diagnosed. The older symptom guide, PCOS symptoms, covers red flags that need sooner care.

What to do with your symptoms

1. Write them down for 4-8 weeks before your appointment: bleed dates, 2-3 symptoms rated 0-3, and anything that seems to make them better or worse.
2. Ask for the full workup, including glucose and cholesterol, not just hormones.
3. Start with the levers that help most symptoms: protein and fiber at each meal, regular strength training and walking, and sleep. Our PCOS insulin resistance diet and workout plan are good starting points.

Track your PMOS symptoms in PCOS Polly

PCOS Polly (the name stays the same) tracks PMOS symptoms, irregular cycles, meals, supplements, and sleep in one timeline, so you can show your doctor a real pattern instead of a guess. It is free to try for 7 days.

Try PCOS Polly free for 7 days →

Sources

• PCOS name change consortium. Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process. The Lancet, May 2026.
• Monash University. International Evidence-based Guideline for PMOS/PCOS, terminology update, June 2026.
• Teede HJ et al. 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of PCOS.
• Cleveland Clinic Consult QD. What the renaming of PCOS means in practice.
• NHS. Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, previously PCOS).