NHS Draft Guidance Recommends Annual Checks for Women with PMOS

Health regulator NICE issued draft guidance on 1 July 2026 advising annual NHS reviews for women diagnosed with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome. The condition, renamed in May, affects an estimated three to four million women in the UK. The guidance calls for faster diagnosis and monitoring of symptoms that include irregular periods, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and infertility.

It also directs clinicians to assess longer-term risks such as diabetes and heart disease.

The draft document sets out when clinicians should suspect PMOS, how to assess patients, and how to confirm the diagnosis. It states that the condition should not be ruled out in women who have reached menopause. NICE notes that PMOS appears more common among women of Black, Asian, and mixed ethnicity and advises clinicians to consider ethnicity during assessment.

No cure exists, but the NHS already provides hormone support and fertility drugs to manage symptoms. The guidance does not recommend laser or light therapies for hair reduction because of cost. Women planning pregnancy should receive advice on weight, diet, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mental health. The draft also highlights that depression and anxiety are common.

The draft guideline is open for consultation from 1 July to 11 August 2026. NICE expects to publish the final version in December 2026.