Millions of women with irregular periods to be offered checks under new NHS guidance

Draft NHS guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence calls for millions of women experiencing irregular menstrual cycles to undergo screening for a chronic hormonal disorder.

The recommendations target those with absent or disrupted periods who also display indicators of elevated male hormones, urging investigation for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).

Approximately one in eight women across Britain is affected by the condition, representing up to four million individuals nationwide.

However, a significant proportion remain unaware they have PMOS, prompting health officials to push for swifter identification and improved ongoing care for those already diagnosed.

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The condition was previously termed polycystic ovarian syndrome until international medical experts advocated for a revised name that better reflects its wider systemic impact beyond the ovaries alone.

PMOS manifests through irregular or absent menstruation combined with signs of heightened androgens, the male hormones responsible for symptoms such as excessive hair growth.

Nice officials are now pressing for the syndrome to be identified at an earlier stage in affected women.

Those with a confirmed diagnosis should receive yearly consultations with their general practitioner, enabling proper monitoring of symptoms and treatment effectiveness whilst managing risks associated with potential long-term complications.

Despite campaigning from some quarters, the guidance declined to endorse NHS-funded laser hair removal treatment for hirsutism, the excessive hair growth triggered by elevated male hormones in PMOS sufferers.

Nice estimated that providing such treatments would burden the health service in England with costs reaching £100 million annually.

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Officials cited insufficient clinical evidence and doubts regarding cost-effectiveness as grounds for the decision.

Nevertheless, the draft recommendations do propose alternative approaches for managing unwanted hair growth, including the prescription of the contraceptive pill.

Additional guidance encompasses fertility treatment options, psychological support services, and advice on lifestyle modifications alongside other clinical interventions available to patients.

PMOS represents a lifelong medical challenge that substantially elevates the likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, and fatty liver disease.

Pregnancy complications also occur more frequently among those with the syndrome.

The condition's impact on daily life frequently contributes to depression and anxiety, while eating disorders affect PMOS patients at disproportionately high rates.

Marie Anne Ledingham, consultant clinical adviser for women's and reproductive health at NICE, said: "PMOS is a common but often overlooked condition that can have a major impact on health and wellbeing.

"Recommending a simple annual review is an important step towards ensuring people get the ongoing care and monitoring they need."

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