PCOS, now renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), is a complex hormonal and metabolic condition that can affect menstrual cycles, skin, hair, weight, fertility and long-term health.
If you are searching what is PCOS, it is a hormonal and metabolic syndrome affecting approximately one in eight women of reproductive age worldwide.
Despite its traditional name, PCOS does not mean that a woman necessarily has ovarian cysts.
The ovarian appearance historically associated with PCOS consists mainly of multiple small follicles. A person can meet diagnostic criteria without this appearance, while someone can have polycystic-appearing ovaries without having the syndrome.
PCOS can involve several interconnected systems, including:
- menstrual and reproductive function;
- androgen hormone activity;
- insulin and metabolic health;
- skin and hair;
- emotional wellbeing;
- long-term cardiovascular and metabolic risk.
This broader understanding is exactly why the international medical community reconsidered the name.
At Dr Batra’s UAE, care is personalised around the symptoms that matter to each woman-whether those are irregular cycles, hair thinning, acne, unwanted facial hair, weight concerns or stress-while appropriate medical evaluation remains an important part of managing this lifelong condition.
PCOS or Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome: Understanding the Name Change
The international name change was announced in May 2026 because “polycystic ovary syndrome” placed too much emphasis on the ovaries and created the misleading impression that ovarian cysts define the condition. PMOS better reflects its effects across multiple hormonal and metabolic systems.
The name itself explains the broader picture:
- Polyendocrine - several hormonal pathways can be involved.
- Metabolic - insulin resistance and metabolic health may be important.
- Ovarian - ovulatory and reproductive features remain part of the syndrome.
- Syndrome - symptoms and clinical features vary considerably between individuals.
The underlying condition has not changed. For people already diagnosed with PCOS, the diagnosis has not suddenly changed. PMOS and PCOS refer to the same condition, and existing evidence-based diagnostic and management recommendations continue to apply during the terminology transition.
PCOS Symptoms Grouped by System: Menstrual, Skin, Hair, Metabolic and Mood
PCOS symptoms are not identical for every woman. Some experience primarily menstrual problems, while others first seek help for acne, hair thinning or difficulty conceiving.
Menstrual and reproductive symptoms
These may include:
- irregular periods;
- infrequent periods;
- absent periods;
- unpredictable ovulation;
- difficulty becoming pregnant in some women.
Skin symptoms
Higher androgen activity can contribute to:
- persistent acne;
- oily skin;
- recurrent jawline or lower-face breakouts;
- darkened skin in certain body folds in people with insulin resistance.
Hair symptoms
PCOS may be associated with two seemingly opposite concerns:
- excess coarse hair on the face or body;
- gradual thinning of scalp hair.
This occurs because different follicles respond differently to androgen hormones.
Metabolic symptoms
Some women experience:
- insulin resistance;
- difficulty managing weight;
- increased abdominal weight;
- abnormal glucose regulation;
- cholesterol or other metabolic changes.
Importantly, PCOS/PMOS can occur at any body size. Being slim does not exclude the diagnosis.
Mood and wellbeing
Anxiety, depression, body-image concerns and reduced quality of life are also recognised as important aspects of the condition.
PCOS Causes: Insulin Resistance, Androgen Excess and Genetics
The exact PCOS causes are complex. There is no single behaviour, food or lifestyle choice that explains why someone develops the condition.
Insulin resistance
Insulin helps cells use glucose for energy. When cells become less responsive to insulin, the body may produce more of it.
Higher insulin levels can interact with ovarian hormone production and contribute to increased androgen activity in susceptible women.
However, not every woman with PMOS has the same degree of insulin resistance.
Androgen excess
Androgens are hormones that everyone produces, but higher levels or increased follicle sensitivity can contribute to:
- acne;
- facial or body hair growth;
- scalp hair thinning;
- disrupted ovulation.
Genetics
PCOS/PMOS often runs in families. Research suggests that numerous genes contribute to susceptibility rather than there being one single “PCOS gene”.
Environment and lifestyle
Lifestyle can influence how strongly some symptoms appear, particularly metabolic features, but lifestyle alone does not cause the syndrome.
Want to understand what is driving your symptoms? Book a detailed consultation with Dr Batra’s UAE.
Four Types of PCOS: Why Your Type Changes the Treatment
You may see references online to “four types of PCOS”. Medically, it is more accurate to call these four diagnostic phenotypes, rather than four completely separate diseases.
Three main features are considered:
- irregular or absent ovulation;
- clinical or biochemical androgen excess;
- polycystic ovarian morphology.
Different combinations create four commonly described phenotypes.
| Phenotype | Ovulatory Dysfunction | Androgen Excess | Polycystic Ovarian Features |
|---|
| A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| B | Yes | Yes | No |
| C | No | Yes | Yes |
| D | Yes | No | Yes |
These patterns matter because one woman may primarily struggle with cycles and fertility, while another may be most affected by acne or scalp hair thinning.
However, treatment should not be chosen solely from an online “PCOS type” quiz. Metabolic health, pregnancy plans, age, symptoms and individual risk factors are equally important.
How PCOS Is Diagnosed
There is no single test that diagnoses PCOS or PMOS.
For adults, current international guidance generally supports diagnosis when two of three recognised features are present after other possible causes have been excluded:
- clinical or biochemical androgen excess;
- irregular or absent ovulation;
- polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound or, in appropriate adults, elevated AMH used according to the diagnostic algorithm.
If irregular cycles and androgen excess are already clearly present, ovarian imaging may not always be necessary.
Tests may also be considered to rule out other causes of similar symptoms, such as thyroid problems or other hormonal disorders.
Diagnosis in adolescents is deliberately more cautious because irregular cycles and acne can occur during normal puberty. Ultrasound and AMH should not be used in the same way for adolescent diagnosis.
This is why self-diagnosing PMOS purely from acne, weight gain or an ultrasound report can be misleading.
PCOS and Hair Loss: Why Treating the Scalp Alone Does Not Work
Scalp thinning in PCOS can occur when genetically susceptible follicles respond to androgen activity by gradually producing finer hairs.
Women often notice:
- a widening centre part;
- reduced density over the top of the scalp;
- increased scalp visibility;
- a thinner ponytail.
Simply changing shampoo cannot correct a hormonal or metabolic driver.
Effective management starts by understanding whether PMOS is contributing to the hair loss and whether other factors-such as stress, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid concerns or hereditary thinning-are also present.
At Dr Batra’s UAE, women experiencing PCOS-related thinning can have both the broader history and the scalp pattern assessed, allowing hair concerns to be incorporated into an individualised management plan.
Learn more about Dr Batra’s UAE hair fall treatment.
PCOS, Acne and Excess Facial Hair
Acne and unwanted facial or body hair are among the most visible PCOS symptoms.
Higher androgen activity can stimulate oil glands and influence hair follicles. This can contribute to persistent acne-often around the lower face or jawline-and increased coarse hair on areas such as the chin, upper lip, chest or abdomen.
However, jawline acne alone does not diagnose PMOS.
When acne occurs alongside irregular periods, unwanted facial hair or scalp thinning, the pattern becomes more suggestive of hormonal involvement and may warrant assessment.
Treating only the individual pimple may provide temporary improvement without addressing the broader pattern. At Dr Batra’s UAE, persistent acne can be assessed alongside hormonal and lifestyle history rather than being viewed only as a surface skin concern.
Learn more about personalised acne treatment at Dr Batra’s UAE.
PCOS and Fertility
PCOS/PMOS is a common cause of ovulatory difficulty, but having PCOS does not mean you cannot become pregnant.
The main fertility issue is often irregular or absent ovulation. If ovulation does not occur consistently, predicting fertile days and becoming pregnant can be more difficult.
Fertility planning should therefore consider:
- age;
- menstrual regularity;
- whether ovulation is occurring;
- metabolic health;
- the partner's fertility where relevant;
- how long pregnancy has been attempted.
Many women with PMOS conceive naturally, while others benefit from specialist fertility care.
Women planning pregnancy should discuss their individual situation with an appropriately qualified gynaecologist or fertility specialist rather than assuming that PMOS automatically means infertility.
PCOS Treatment: Managing Cycles, Skin, Hair, Weight and Fertility
There is no one-size-fits-all PCOS treatment because symptoms and priorities differ.
A good management plan may address several areas.
Cycle health
Women with irregular or absent periods require appropriate medical evaluation and ongoing management, particularly when cycles remain widely spaced.
Metabolic health
Healthy eating, regular physical activity, adequate sleep and sustainable weight management where relevant are important foundations.
Lifestyle recommendations should focus on health rather than blame or unrealistic weight targets.
Skin and hair
Acne, facial hair and scalp thinning may require specific management alongside the broader hormonal picture.
Fertility
Treatment depends on whether pregnancy is currently desired. Fertility management should be personalised and clinically supervised.
Emotional wellbeing
Anxiety, depression, body-image concerns and the frustration of unpredictable symptoms should also be acknowledged and supported.
Personalised complementary care
Some women also choose homeopathic care as part of their overall management strategy. This should be personalised and integrated responsibly with appropriate medical monitoring rather than replacing necessary endocrine, gynaecological or fertility care.
PCOS/PMOS Homeopathic Treatment
At Dr Batra’s UAE, your consultation starts with understanding your PCOS/PMOS: how regular your periods are, which symptoms bother you most, and how long they have been present. The doctor also asks about acne and skin changes, unwanted facial or body hair, scalp hair thinning, weight and metabolic concerns, your stress, sleep and lifestyle, your family history, your fertility goals, and any investigations and treatments you have already had. Where relevant, a scalp and skin assessment adds a closer look at hair and skin concerns, so your treatment plan is built around what is actually affecting you.
Advantages of homeopathic medicines
Personalised: the plan is based on your symptom pattern, health priorities and overall health, not one standard prescription.
Looks at the whole pattern: it aims to connect your cycles, skin, hair and stress, not to treat each symptom as a separate problem.
Non-invasive and gentle: it uses oral medicines, and it can be combined with lifestyle guidance and appropriate medical monitoring.
Whole-person approach: it takes stress, sleep, lifestyle and emotional wellbeing into account and builds a plan around your specific needs and type of PCOS/PMOS.
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