We talk with Professor Roger Hart about why PCOS has been renamed PMOS and why the condition is bigger than ovaries and “cysts.” We walk through what PMOS can look like from puberty to pregnancy to midlife, plus the practical steps that protect fertility and long-term health.
• Why the name PMOS better reflects hormones and metabolism across the whole body
• How irregular ovulation can drive heavy, unpredictable periods and cycle disruption
• Why acne, oily skin, excess hair, and hair loss can be part of androgen patterns
• How weight gain around the waist can worsen insulin resistance and symptoms
• What PMOS can mean for diabetes risk, heart health, fatty liver, and sleep apnea
• Why “PMOS means you need IVF” is often the wrong first message
• How ovulation induction can be a straightforward path to pregnancy in expert hands
• When IVF makes sense and why OHSS risk needs careful management
• How Mirena can protect the uterine lining and reduce bleeding over time
• The importance of tailoring treatment to your life stage and your goals
If you'd like to learn more about City Fertility and the services that they offer, please visit cityfertility.com.au.
PCOS is one of the most misunderstood reproductive health labels, and the name itself has helped drive confusion for decades. We sit down with Professor Roger Hart to explain why the condition has been renamed PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome) and why that change is meant to shift the focus away from “cysts” and toward what’s really going on with hormones, ovulation, and metabolism.
We unpack what PMOS can look like across a lifetime: irregular or heavy periods after puberty, acne and unwanted hair growth linked to androgen patterns, and the frustrating reality that insulin resistance and abdominal weight gain can make symptoms flare and weight loss harder. We also talk about the health issues that deserve real attention beyond fertility, including type 2 diabetes risk, cardiovascular risk, fatty liver, and sleep apnea, plus what to ask your GP to monitor over time.
If you’re trying to conceive, we challenge the fear-based advice many people hear. PMOS does not automatically mean IVF. For many, the first step is ovulation induction, carefully “prodding” the ovary to release one egg while minimizing twin risk. We also cover when IVF is appropriate, why ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) matters in PMOS, and how approaches like in vitro maturation (IVM) may reduce risk in the right settings. If this helped you reframe PMOS with more clarity and hope, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find trustworthy fertility education.
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Prof Hart - Prof Roger Hart | Medical Director Fertility Specialists of WA, Perth
