Short answer: PCOS, now also called PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome), is a common hormone condition that affects periods, skin and hair, weight, metabolism and fertility. An endocrinologist confirms the diagnosis, rules out other hormone problems such as thyroid disease and high prolactin, and checks your sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure. The treatment plan then depends on what matters most to you right now.

PCOS is one of the most common reasons young women in India see an endocrinologist. Two women with PCOS can look very different: one may have irregular periods and acne, another may have weight gain and early diabetes, and another may only notice it when trying to conceive. That is why a single standard prescription rarely fits. For background, read what is PCOS?.

Is it PCOS (now also called PMOS)?

In 2026, international experts announced a new name for PCOS: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. The new name reflects that the condition involves several hormones and metabolism, not just "cysts" on the ovaries. In fact, many women with the condition do not have cysts at all. You may see both names for some time.

The diagnosis in adults is usually based on having at least two of these three features, after other causes have been ruled out:

  • irregular or absent periods (or no ovulation);
  • signs of high male-type hormones (androgens), such as excess facial or body hair, acne or scalp hair thinning, or high androgen levels on a blood test;
  • polycystic ovaries on ultrasound, or a high AMH blood level in adults.

In teenagers, the diagnosis is made more carefully, because irregular periods and acne are common in the first years after periods start. Read how PCOS is diagnosed.

What do we check at the first visit?

A PCOS assessment usually covers four areas:

  • Your cycles. How often periods come, how heavy they are, and how long the pattern has been irregular.
  • Androgens. The pattern of hair growth, acne and hair thinning, and sometimes blood tests for testosterone and related hormones. Very rapid or severe symptoms need further tests to rule out rarer causes.
  • Metabolic risk. Weight, waist size and blood pressure, and blood tests for sugar (such as HbA1c or a glucose tolerance test) and cholesterol. PCOS raises the risk of diabetes, even in women who are not overweight, and especially in South Asian women.
  • Other hormone causes. Thyroid function and prolactin are usually checked, because thyroid disease and high prolactin can also cause irregular periods.

Mood, sleep and body image are also part of the assessment. Anxiety and low mood are more common in PCOS and deserve attention.

For more on hormone tests for irregular periods, read irregular periods: which hormone tests?.

Why do different goals need different plans?

Once the diagnosis is clear, the plan is built around your goals. These often change over time:

  • Regular periods. Regular cycles protect the lining of the womb. Lifestyle changes help many women, and your doctor may discuss medicines that regulate cycles.
  • Skin and hair. Acne and unwanted hair can be treated with medicines and with cosmetic methods such as laser. Results take months, so patience matters.
  • Weight and metabolism. Even modest weight loss can improve periods and metabolic health. Read PCOS, weight and metabolic health.
  • Fertility. Many women with PCOS conceive, some naturally and some with help. If you are trying to conceive, some medicines are avoided and others may be used. Read can I get pregnant with PCOS?.

Your doctor will discuss which treatment options suit your goals, your health and your life stage. Medicines should be started or changed only after this discussion.

When should I see a gynaecologist as well?

PCOS care often works well when an endocrinologist and a gynaecologist work together. It is useful to see a gynaecologist as well if:

  • you are trying to conceive and have not succeeded after about a year (or sooner if you are older or have very irregular cycles);
  • you have very heavy, prolonged or very infrequent bleeding, or bleeding between periods;
  • you need a pelvic ultrasound or a fertility evaluation;
  • you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

When to see a doctor urgently

Seek urgent care if you have: very heavy bleeding that soaks a pad every hour for several hours, bleeding with dizziness or fainting, severe lower abdominal pain, or pain with a positive pregnancy test. Go to the nearest emergency department immediately, or call 108 or 112.

Read more

Book a consultation with Dr. Om J Lakhani at AB Plus Hospital, Ahmedabad, or online → consult.dromlakhani.com. Call +91 73738 48848 for appointments.

References

  1. Teede HJ, et al. Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2023. PubMed
  2. Teede HJ, et al. From polycystic ovary syndrome to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome: a systematic search and historical account of the renaming of polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2026. PubMed
  3. Forslund M, et al. Recent advances in polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, formerly polycystic ovary syndrome, with emphasis on endocrine and metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. J Intern Med. 2026. PubMed