PCOS (Now PMOS): Treatment & Root Causes

The hol+ approach to viewing PCOS as a whole-body clinical condition is nothing new; our physician-led team has always regarded it as a systems condition rather than something that can be managed by simply suppressing a list of symptoms. The change in name to PMOS in 2026 signifies within conventional medicine what functional and integrative medicine have recognized for years – it is a metabolic and endocrine issue, not one involving cysts.

If you have been told you have PCOS and handed a prescription for the pill, or told your lab results are "fine" even though you are still experiencing irregular cycles, weight that doesn’t seem to respond, acne, unwanted hair growth, hair thinning, or trouble getting pregnant, hol+ can help you look deeper. Our approach involves identifying which factors are fueling your PCOS and then building a personalized holistic plan around the root cause, not the label or diagnosis.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which has now officially been renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), is one of the most common hormonal disorders among women and is also one of the most misunderstood. Although it affects the ovaries, it is not merely an ovarian issue since it is a metabolic and endocrine condition affecting the whole body, including blood sugar, insulin, androgens, inflammation, mood, and fertility.

What Is PCOS (PMOS)?

PCOS is a hormonal and metabolic disorder that influences the way the ovaries function and the way the body handles hormones and blood sugar; it is generally identified by a mix of irregular or missing ovulation, signs of elevated androgen levels (acne, the growth of unwanted hair, or thinning of the hair on the scalp), and, in certain instances, a particular appearance of the ovaries when seen on ultrasound. It should be noted that despite the old name, many women with PCOS have no ovarian cysts at all, which is one of the main reasons for the change of the name.

PCOS is common and yet not widely recognized. It is thought to occur in about one in eight to one in ten women of reproductive age, and a large number of cases remain undiagnosed or are incorrectly diagnosed for years. Since the symptoms are diverse and overlap with those of other conditions, many women go from one doctor to another without receiving a clear explanation.

Above all, PCOS is not limited to the reproductive system since it is closely associated with insulin and blood sugar regulation, inflammation, stress physiology, thyroid function, and long-term metabolic and cardiovascular health. That's why hol+ evaluates PCOS as a whole-body pattern, and why the new name, PMOS, suits the condition much better than the previous name.

Why PCOS Is Now Called PMOS

In May 2026, more than 50 international patient and professional organizations, including the Endocrine Society, adopted the name Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome following a global consensus published in The Lancet. The old name pointed to ovarian cysts that many women never have. The new name reflects what the research shows: a multi-system hormonal and metabolic condition affecting metabolism, mental health, and reproduction.

For hol+ patients, three things are worth knowing:

PCOS and PMOS are the same condition; the name changed, the diagnosis did not.

You will still see "PCOS" on lab reports, insurance forms, and in most clinics for the foreseeable future, so we use both terms.

The rename validates the approach hol+ has always taken.

Who Is PCOS (PMOS) Care For?

PCOS (PMOS) care offered at hol+ is not just about prescribing the pill; it is aimed at women who want to understand why their body is behaving as it is and who wish to tackle the problem at its root.

A large number of patients come to hol+ after having been ignored for years, having been given the advice to 'lose weight' without any kind of plan, or having been prescribed birth control that hides their symptoms rather than tackling the fundamental root cause. There are also those who are trying to get pregnant or who are coming off hormonal birth control and therefore encountering PCOS (PMOS) symptoms for the first time.

You may benefit from a functional medicine evaluation for PCOS (PMOS) if you experience:

Irregular, infrequent, or absent menstrual periods

Difficulty losing weight, or weight gain around the midsection

Acne, especially along the jaw and chin

Unwanted hair growth on the face, chest, or abdomen (hirsutism)

Scalp hair thinning or male-pattern hair loss

Difficulty getting or staying pregnant

Sugar cravings, energy crashes, or signs of insulin resistance

A diagnosis of PCOS with no plan beyond birth control

Skin tags or darkened patches of skin

"Normal" labs despite clear symptoms

Mood changes, anxiety, or low mood

PCOS (PMOS) symptoms are similar to those of thyroid imbalance, hypothalamic amenorrhea, hormone imbalance, and metabolic conditions. Since hol+ looks at the full pattern, treatment is based on the correct root cause rather than making assumptions about the symptoms.

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How We Help

Root Causes We Address

PCOS (PMOS) root causes and contributors we may evaluate include:

Insulin resistance and blood sugar dysregulation (present in a majority of cases)
Elevated androgens and disrupted LH/FSH signaling
Chronic inflammation
Stress physiology and adrenal androgen production
Thyroid dysfunction and other conditions that mimic PCOS

Gut and microbiome health, which influences hormone metabolism and inflammation
Post–birth control hormonal rebound
Nutrient status (vitamin D, magnesium, inositol, and others) conditions that mimic PCOS
Genetics and family history
Environmental and endocrine-disrupting exposures

Because these drivers overlap and reinforce one another, PCOS (PMOS) rarely responds well to a single-lever fix. That's why hol+ maps the full pattern before building a holistic treatment plan.

The PCOS (PMOS) Patterns We See

One of the most useful aspects of a functional medicine evaluation is identifying which PCOS (PMOS) pattern is most active. Although most women have a mixture of patterns, one pattern tends to dominate, and naming it changes the course of treatment. This is at the heart of the way hol+ delivers care.

Insulin-resistant PCOS (PMOS)

The most common pattern, driven by high insulin and blood sugar dysregulation. Often involves weight gain, sugar cravings, and elevated androgens.

Inflammatory PCOS (PMOS)

Driven by chronic inflammation, which can push the ovaries to produce excess androgens. May involve fatigue, skin issues, and digestive symptoms, with elevated inflammatory markers.

Adrenal PCOS (PMOS)

A stress-driven pattern where excess androgens come primarily from the adrenal glands rather than the ovaries, often reflected in elevated DHEA-S.

Post-pill PCOS (PMOS)

A temporary surge in androgens and symptoms after stopping hormonal birth control, which often settles with the right support.

Identifying your pattern is not about a rigid label. It is about aiming treatment at the actual driver of the condition.

Not sure where to start?

Schedule your free 15-minute consultation and we'll help you find the right path.

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The hol+ Approach Framework

hol+ views PCOS (PMOS) as part of a larger biological system. The ovaries, pancreas and insulin signaling, adrenal glands, thyroid, gut, and immune system are all in constant communication. When one of these systems is dysregulated, PCOS (PMOS) symptoms become harder to resolve.

Our framework may include evaluation of:

Metabolism & Insulin

Because insulin resistance drives most PCOS (PMOS) cases, metabolic health is central.

hol+ evaluates blood sugar, insulin, and metabolic markers, the same axis the new PMOS name puts front and center.

Androgens & Reproductive Hormones

We assess androgens (such as testosterone and DHEA-S), LH/FSH balance, and cycle patterns.

Together these reveal your PCOS (PMOS) hormonal signature and what is driving it.

Inflammation

hol+ evaluates inflammatory patterns as part of whole-body care.

Inflammation can stimulate androgen production and worsen insulin resistance.

Stress Physiology & Adrenals

Chronic stress can drive adrenal androgen output and disrupt blood sugar and cycles.

Supporting the stress response is often part of a PCOS plan.

Thyroid

Thyroid dysfunction can mimic or worsen PCOS.

Evaluating thyroid function helps confirm the diagnosis and clarify what is truly driving symptoms.

Gut Health

The gut microbiome influences hormone metabolism, inflammation, and blood sugar.

All of it relevant to PCOS. See how hol+ approaches digestive health.

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What we Offer

hol+ Services for PCOS (PMOS)

PCOS (PMOS) and Metabolic Health

Because insulin resistance sits at the center of most PCOS (PMOS) symptoms, metabolic care is the foundation. hol+ evaluates and supports blood sugar and insulin as a first-line holistic strategy, consistent with current research and the metabolic emphasis of the PMOS renaming.