Important Update from May 2026: If you were previously diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), you may have seen the news: the condition has a new name. A global panel of clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates has formally renamed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), marking a major shift in how the condition is understood and communicated in clinical care. This article has been updated to reflect that change and what it means for dancers managing this condition.
Hormonal imbalances, such as those associated with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), can leave many dancers feeling overwhelmed and confused. PMOS affects one in eight women — more than 170 million people worldwide. This article breaks down the complexities of PMOS, helping dancers with the condition understand how to manage it without succumbing to the pressures of diet culture.
Why the Name Changed: From PCOS to PMOS
The renaming wasn’t cosmetic; it was a long-overdue scientific correction.
The old name led patients to attribute ovarian cysts to the condition, creating risk of underdiagnosis for other features. Because doctors, too, would focus on the cystic presentation of the condition, patients could be dismissed if they didn’t present with cysts, even as they suffered from the metabolic and fertility issues linked with the condition.
The panel explained that the name was “inaccurate” because it didn’t fully capture the condition’s metabolic and endocrine features. The new name is intended to be more accurate, reduce stigma, and bolster research.
What this means for dancers practically: If you were diagnosed with PCOS last year, you simply have PMOS now. Nothing about your body, your diagnosis, or your risk profile is different. What changed is the framing: PCOS pointed at the ovaries and the cysts that are not really cysts; PMOS points at the hormonal and metabolic systems that drive the condition. What is visible on ultrasound are small antral follicles: immature follicles that haven’t developed properly, not cysts in the clinical sense.
What Are The Symptoms of PMOS?
PMOS manifests in various ways, often impacting both the body and mind. Common characteristics include:
- Weight changes (most often weight gain)
- Hyperandrogenism: symptoms such as acne, facial hair, and thinning hair
- Ovarian dysfunction
- Difficulty getting pregnant from hormonal imbalances that hinder fertility
- Irregular periods and other menstrual irregularities
- Metabolic and cardiometabolic effects: including insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and elevated triglycerides
The new name recognizes that the condition is not a primarily gynecological disorder, but is instead a complex, multisystem condition involving endocrine, metabolic, reproductive, dermatological, and psychological health.
Because weight gain is commonly experienced with PMOS, medical management has often emphasized weight loss. However, this weight-centric approach can be harmful, particularly in a society steeped in weight bias, and especially in dance culture. These societal pressures can make navigating a PMOS diagnosis both physically and mentally challenging, increasing the risk of disordered eating.
How Is PMOS Diagnosed?
To receive a PMOS diagnosis, a person must meet at least two of the following three criteria:
- Irregular or missing menstrual cycles: indicating that ovulation is not occurring regularly, a key feature of PMOS.
- Ultrasound findings: the presence of multiple small follicles on the ovaries, often detected via pelvic ultrasound.
- Blood tests: hormonal imbalances, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and elevated triglyceride levels.
What’s changing under the new framework: Under the PMOS framework, the clinical workup now includes metabolic markers from the outset. A woman presenting with irregular periods and acne may also get screened for insulin resistance, glucose tolerance, and cardiometabolic risk factors — meaning a more complete picture from the first visit. This is meaningful progress for dancers, who have historically been dismissed or misdiagnosed when cysts weren’t visible on imaging.
Tips To Manage PMOS Without Dieting
Managing PMOS without falling into the trap of diet culture is crucial for your physical and mental well-being. Here are some tips to help you navigate this journey:
#1: Steer Clear of Diet Culture
Despite the weight-loss focus often prescribed for PMOS management, research doesn’t support restrictive dieting for treatment. Diet cycling (the cycle of bingeing and restricting food) worsens symptoms, creates a toxic relationship with food, and increases the risk of binge eating disorder.
#2: Focus on Behaviors, Not Weight
Registered Dietitian Sam Abbott emphasizes the importance of focusing on behaviors such as sleep habits, stress management, and self-care, rather than obsessing over body weight. Eating should honor both your physical and emotional health. A weight-neutral approach allows you to build a better relationship with food and helps you understand what your body needs. For dancers, stress management is also key to supporting hormonal balance.
#3: Focus on Food Neutrality
Insulin resistance is common in women with PMOS, including those at a healthy weight. This leads many to feel pressure to eliminate carbohydrates, but cutting out carbs and avoiding sugar will likely lead to rebellious eating as a compensatory response to deprivation. Complete avoidance of grains and dairy can also lead to iodine deficiency, a nutrient critical for thyroid and hormone health.
Unless you have celiac disease requiring gluten avoidance or are lactose intolerant, eliminating carbs, fearing grains, or restricting sugar is neither necessary nor recommended. Focus on food neutrality and an intuitive approach.
#4: Consider Gentle Nutrition
Gentle nutrition encourages adding complex carbs — such as fibrous whole grains, fruits, and vegetables — to help maintain stable blood sugar levels. These foods slow digestion, leading to more controlled glucose and insulin levels throughout your day. Combine them with sources of protein and healthy fats to further stabilize blood sugar. Here’s an article to learn more about the role of fiber in your diet. Adding sources rich in protein and fat will further this effect.
#5: The Power of Joyful Movement
Joyful movement and intuitive eating can help build a sustainable lifestyle that manages the symptoms of PMOS effectively. For more support, check out Christy Harrison’s podcast Food Psych Episode #199 with Julie Duffy Dillon, and follow Sam Abbott’s page (@PCOSNutritionist).
#5 Don’t Fear Medical Management
Managing your PMOS symptoms may require more than meal plan adjustments. Treatment plans are individualized and decided in collaboration with your provider. If your doctor recommends medication or other treatments to help manage your PMOS, don’t hesitate to explore those options. Medications can often be a helpful part of the management plan and can provide relief from the most challenging symptoms. Trying to control your body through restrictive eating or excessive exercise alone can exacerbate symptoms.
Key Takeaways: Dancers and PCOS
PMOS is a complex, multisystem condition that requires a nuanced approach to management. The name change from PCOS to PMOS is a meaningful clinical shift: one that validates what many with this condition have long experienced: that the impacts extend far beyond ovaries and reproductive health, touching metabolism, cardiovascular health, mental health, and overall hormonal balance.
Rather than focusing on weight or restrictive dieting, dancers with PMOS should prioritize behaviors that nurture their bodies: balanced nutrition, stress management, and joyful movement. With time and patience, managing PMOS becomes not just about the body, but about creating a sustainable, supportive relationship with food and self-care.
