Episode 81: PCOS Is Now PMOS: What Does It Mean for You?

You may have heard the news — PCOS is being renamed. But if you're sitting there thinking, "Okay, what does that actually mean for me?" — this episode is exactly what you need.Dr. Sarah breaks it all down. In this episode, Dr. Sarah covers:1. Why the name had to changeThose "cysts" on your ovaries? They were never actually cysts. They're immature follicles — the result of your brain and ovaries not communicating efficiently. Not everyone with PCOS even has them. The old name was creating missed diagnoses and dismissed women. That ends now.2. What birth control actually does — and what it doesn'tThe pill suppresses ovulation, manages estrogen, and protects the uterine lining from thickening. Dr. Sarah is clear: she recommends medications when her patients need them. But the pill doesn't touch insulin resistance. It doesn't fix metabolic risk. And it doesn't protect your cardiovascular health long-term. That's the gap we need to talk about.3. PMOS doesn't "graduate" at menopauseOne of the most damaging things Dr. Sarah hears: women being told they no longer have PCOS once they stop having periods. That is not how this works. The insulin resistance doesn't disappear. The cardiovascular risk doesn't disappear. The thyroid and adrenal connections don't disappear. The condition changes — but it doesn't end.4. The test that changes everything: the 2-hour insulin glucose challengeA fasting blood test can only tell you what happened overnight. It cannot tell you what happens when you eat — and in PCOS/PMOS, that's where most of the dysfunction lives. Dr. Sarah explains why she runs this test on every single patient with this diagnosis, and what it allows her to do: build a meal plan that is specific to your insulin response. How many carbs. When to eat. Whether fasting is right for you. Protein types and timing. Information most women have never been given.5. What real PMOS management looks like at AWHAt Advanced Women's Health, nothing is changing — because the AWH approach has always treated this as a multi-system condition. That means assessing the brain (FSH, LH, prolactin), the thyroid, the ovaries, the adrenals, and the pancreas/insulin system. On an ongoing basis. Because this condition requires monitoring through every phase of life, including perimenopause and menopause.Takeaways from this episode:✅ You don't need cysts on your ovaries to have PCOS/PMOS — irregular cycles and androgenic signs (acne, hair growth, high testosterone or DHEAS) are the key markers✅ The birth control pill manages symptoms — it does not treat the underlying metabolic condition✅ If you've only ever had a fasting insulin test, you're missing most of the picture — ask about the 2-hour insulin glucose challenge✅ PMOS is a lifelong condition requiring ongoing monitoring — not just until you start ovulating or until menopause✅ Up to 30% of women with PMOS also have hypothyroidism — thyroid and adrenal health must be assessed alongside ovarian function✅ Metabolic health can be achieved with this condition. You don't need hundreds of dollars of supplements for life — you need the right strategic approach, customized to your bodyGo back and listen to Episodes 8 and 9 for Dr. Sarah's deep dives on hormones, insulin, and insulin resistance — they're essential companions to this one.📍 Resources & LinksBook a visit or reach out: advancedwomenshealth.caNot sure who to work with? AWH onboarding coordinators offer free 15-minute calls to match you with the right practitioner📲 Follow Dr. Sarah on Instagram: @drsarah_nd🏥 Advanced Women's Health on Instagram: @advancedwomenshealthIf you've been told you don't have PCOS, or that you've "outgrown" it, or if you've never had a full insulin workup — reach out. This is exactly what we're here for.