Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) Explained + Your Holistic Remedy Guide
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) officially has a new name. Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). Despite the new name being quite a mouthful, this is a big win for women's health! PMOS is a metabolic syndrome that affects up to 15% of women. It’s best defined as a group of symptoms related to high androgens and anovulation. Its old name was misleading as PCOS is not a syndrome of the ovaries, it’s actually a metabolic disorder and one of the many symptoms can be the formation of underdeveloped follicles on the ovaries (also known as cysts but they aren't really cysts at all). Read below to find out more about PCOS plus my top holistic remedies to put your PCOS into remission!
Common PMOS Symptoms:
Annovulatory cycles
Polycystic ovaries (not all women with PMOS have polycystic ovaries, and not all women with polycystic ovaries have PMOS. Healthy women have been found to have polycystic ovaries 25% of the time)
Insulin resistance
Hirsutism (excess hair growth on chin, cheeks, belly or around nipples)
Acne
Hair loss
Weight gain
Infertility
Anxiety
Depression
High Androgens (male hormones such as DHEAS, testosterone, androstenedione)
Is it really PMOS?
PCOS CAN’T BE DIAGNOSED WITH AN ULTRASOUND.
There is no ONE test for PMOS because it does not present itself in the same way in all women. Think of PMOS as an umbrella with many symptoms underneath it. These symptoms have been defined according to diagnostic criteria made by the Rotterdam Criteria and the Androgen Excess Society.
I will share both criteria, but in my opinion, the Rotterdam Criteria has too broad a scope, as a woman can be diagnosed with PMOS without having excess androgens.
Rotterdam Criteria:
This is a loose set of criteria that states a woman has PMOS if she meets two out of the following three:
1. Oligo-ovulation (irregular ovulation resulting in anovulatory cycles and irregular periods)
2. Clinical and or biochemical hyperandrogenism
3. Polycystic ovaries on an ultrasound
Androgen Excess Society Criteria:
A woman must have all three of the following criteria to be diagnosed with PMOS.
1. Oligo-ovulation and/or polycystic ovaries
2. Clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism (high androgens on a test or symptoms of high androgens)
3. Exclusion of other conditions that would cause hyperandrogenism (some of which would be high prolactin, some birth control, some medications, hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, rare adrenal or pituitary diseases.
WHAT ABOUT TEENS? Polycystic ovaries, irregular cycles, and insulin resistance are all normal and healthy during puberty. These symptoms are only deemed abnormal if they persist after the first few years of cycling.
4 Types of PMOS
1. Insulin Resistance PCOS (70%)
2. Post-Pill PCOS
3. Inflammatory PCOS
4. Adrenal PCOS
Common allopathic treatments for PMOS
Hormonal Birth Control--creates more insulin resistance and causes nutrient deficiencies. Disrupts the microbiome and can lead to leaky gut, which means more inflammation. Leads to depression and anxiety, which women with PCOS already struggle with. Despite what your doctor says, hormonal birth control will NOT FIX your PCOS. It will just mask the symptoms.
Metformin-this is a prescription drug that works by lowering insulin resistance and balancing blood sugar. The con to this is it depletes B vitamins and causes gastrointestinal upset. Most times Metformin is not even necessary because the after balancing blood sugar with the right foods and exercise.
Ovarian drilling-- requires surgery and should be a last case resort. Can cause scarring which can compromise fertility but has had success rates in some women with PCOS trying to conceive.
Holistic remedies for PMOS
Blood sugar balancing diet ----- > Healthy fats, fiber, protein, and low carb. Not NO carbs, just lower carb as we NEED carbs. Reducing added sugar is crucial for blood sugar balance, and many women with PMOS thrive when they omit gluten and dairy from their diet. But not all. To learn more about how to eat to support your PMOS, check out my online course, The Period Solution.
Healthy weight loss- with diet and lifestyle changes, NOT crash diets. Fat tissue produces estrogen, and estrogen is aromatized into androgens. So if there is too much estrogen, androgen excess can manifest.
Exercise-exercise re-sensitizes cells to insulin. Especially leg exercises such as squats and lunges and post-meal walks.
Acupuncture -helps stimulate blood flow to ovaries, lowers inflammation, and reduces stress.
Stress reduction- Sleep, breathing, yoga, meditation, journaling, prayer, gratitude
Top PCOS Supplements:
Magnesium – improves insulin sensitivity, reduces anxiety, helps promote relaxation and restful sleep
Ovasitol- (40:1 blend of myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol)improves insulin sensitivity, reduces androgens, and restores regular ovulation, reduces testosterone. Works just as well or better than Metformin! Click here to get yours for 10% off with code 677079
Zinc- Reduces inflammation, nourishes ovarian follicles and has anti-androgen effects. Zinc deficiency puts you at greater risk for PMOS. My favorite way to get zinc is with Paleovalley's Organ Complex. This is nature's multivitamin. Click here to get 15% off.
Cod liver Oil- reduces inflammatory prostaglandins and boost Vitamin D levels
Probiotic –restores gut health and lowers lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which can increase gut permeability and cause inflammation.
NAC- reduces inflammation and promotes detoxification. Also improves insulin sensitivity. I like Pure Encapsulations NAC
For more help on your PMOS hormone balancing journey, check out my self-paced online course, The Period Solution, which can help you balance your hormones and start feeling better ASAP! This 6-module course comes with all the resources, recipes, and exercise videos you need to balance your hormones and regulate your periods.
Further Resources:
Healing PCOS
8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS
In health,