PCOS (PMOS): managing symptoms and addressing root causes
PCOS (PMOS) affects fertility, hormones, and metabolism. Functional medicine works to address the underlying causes, restoring hormonal balance and supporting reproductive health naturally.
How to treat PCOS (PMOS) naturally
Looking to discover the functional medicine approach to treating PMOS? This page covers:
Our PCOS specialists will work with you to understand the root cause of your PCOS so we can treat the real issue naturally and effectively, using our revolutionary approach to healthcare.
What is PCOS?
Understanding your hormonal condition
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS, now known as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome or PMOS) is a hormonal condition which affects up to one in ten Australian women of child-bearing age, and up to 21 percent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
PCOS stems from hormonal imbalance – an excess of male hormones – and can cause infertility.
Why the name changed from PCOS to PMOS
For decades, the name polycystic ovary syndrome pointed to the wrong thing. The “polycystic” in PCOS implied the condition was defined by cysts on the ovaries. In reality, the spots visible on ultrasound are follicles, not cysts, and many people with the condition show no ovarian changes on imaging at all. The name led to missed diagnoses, gaps in care, and a clinical focus that overlooked the metabolic and hormonal complexity of what was actually happening.
The rename followed an eleven-year global consensus process involving over 22,000 patients, researchers, and clinicians across more than 56 organisations, culminating in a paper published in The Lancet in May 2026. The new name was chosen to reflect what the condition actually is. Polyendocrine acknowledges that multiple hormonal systems are involved, not just the ovaries. Metabolic recognises the central role of insulin resistance, weight, cardiovascular risk, and blood glucose. Ovarian retains the connection to ovulatory function and fertility, which remain defining features.
Both terms are currently in use. The full transition to PMOS in clinical guidelines, medical education, and disease classification is expected to be complete by 2028. Throughout this article, PCOS and PMOS are used interchangeably to reflect that transition period.
What is PCOS?
Understanding your hormonal condition
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS, now known as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome or PMOS) is a hormonal condition which affects up to one in ten Australian women of child-bearing age, and up to 21 percent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
PCOS stems from hormonal imbalance – an excess of male hormones – and can cause infertility.
Why the name changed from PCOS to PMOS
For decades, the name polycystic ovary syndrome pointed to the wrong thing. The “polycystic” in PCOS implied the condition was defined by cysts on the ovaries. In reality, the spots visible on ultrasound are follicles, not cysts, and many people with the condition show no ovarian changes on imaging at all. The name led to missed diagnoses, gaps in care, and a clinical focus that overlooked the metabolic and hormonal complexity of what was actually happening.
The rename followed an eleven-year global consensus process involving over 22,000 patients, researchers, and clinicians across more than 56 organisations, culminating in a paper published in The Lancet in May 2026. The new name was chosen to reflect what the condition actually is. Polyendocrine acknowledges that multiple hormonal systems are involved, not just the ovaries. Metabolic recognises the central role of insulin resistance, weight, cardiovascular risk, and blood glucose. Ovarian retains the connection to ovulatory function and fertility, which remain defining features.
Both terms are currently in use. The full transition to PMOS in clinical guidelines, medical education, and disease classification is expected to be complete by 2028. Throughout this article, PCOS and PMOS are used interchangeably to reflect that transition period.
Finding a permanent PCOS treatment
Want to treat PCOS naturally and permanently? A range of consistent factors have been identified among people with PCOS, including family history and genetics, hormone levels, diet, lifestyle factors including activity levels, smoking and alcohol intake.
This is why our practitioners treat PCOS with a holistic whole-of-body approach that offers a more permanent solution to your hormonal condition while treating its underlying cause.
Our patients are experiencing results they’ve been trying to achieve for years through conventional medicine.
PCOS symptoms and signs
PCOS stems from hormonal imbalance and an excess of male hormones, called androgens. Levels of these androgens, together with insulin are elevated in people with PCOS, causing a range of symptoms, from acne to stubborn weight and facial hair.
In addition to these symptoms, people with PCOS may not ovulate every month, resulting in irregular cycles. An ultrasound might reveal a large number of follicles containing under-developed eggs on the ovaries.
PCOS symptoms and signs to look for:
- Weight gain
- Anxiety, depression and low mood
- Difficulty losing weight
- Acne
- Excessive hair on the face, abdomen or back
- Thinning scalp hair
- Insulin resistance
- High blood glucose or Type II Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Irregular periods
- Infertility
- Ovarian follicles
- Sleep apnoea
PCOS will often look different for everyone, and not everyone with PCOS will experience all of these symptoms. PCOS symptoms can also change and evolve over time. The name polycystic ovary syndrome is misleading because the dark spots seen on ultrasound are not cysts, but follicles or underdeveloped eggs within the ovaries. For this reason, Australian-led PCOS guidelines for clinical diagnosis have been implemented universally, confirming diagnosis of PCOS when there is a combination of hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction. This means ultrasound examination of the ovaries is not required for diagnosis of PCOS in adult women.
It’s also worth noting that some women can receive a diagnosis of PCOS, when they really have hypothalamic amenorrhoea, a condition where menstruation is halted due to dysfunctional signalling in the brain. Often because women don’t menstruate for some time, it’s assumed that they have PCOS. The appearance of the ovaries on an ultrasound can be similar, however, treatments are different for both conditions.
Listen to Melbourne Functional Medicine practitioner Rebecca Hughes talk about the common signs and symptoms of PCOS below.
Forget short-term masks. Treat the cause for lasting health
What causes PCOS?
The causes of PCOS are still not fully understood but a range of consistent factors has been identified among people with PCOS, as discussed earlier.
As many as 95 percent of people with PCOS also experience insulin resistance, which prevents insulin from effectively performing its function of transferring glucose from the bloodstream into the body’s cells where it can be used for energy. This results in elevated levels of insulin and glucose circulating in the blood, and higher amounts of glucose being stored as fat. More than half of all people with PCOS will also develop type-two diabetes by age 40.
People with a mother, aunt, or sister with PCOS are 50 percent more likely to develop the condition, and PCOS is more than twice as prevalent among women of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
Natural vs conventional PCOS treatments
The conventional medicine approach to managing PCOS often involves addressing each of the different signs and symptoms separately.
The conventional treatments used to manage PCOS symptoms such as irregular periods, fertility challenges, excess hair, acne and excess weight can include:
- Combined oral contraceptive pill: Current guidelines recommend the COCP should be recommended in adults with PCOS for management of hyperandrogenism and/or irregular menstrual cycles.
- Metformin: An insulin-sensitising drug, used in combination with the OCP for management of metabolic features of PCOS such as high blood glucose and insulin resistance.
- Letrozole: Considered ‘first-line pharmacological treatment’ for ovulation induction in people with PCOS with anovulatory infertility and no other infertility factors, to improve ovulation, pregnancy and live birth rates, while reducing multiple pregnancies compared to clomiphene citrate.
- Gonadotrophins: Anti-androgen and testosterone-lowering drugs can be used as second-line pharmacological agents in people with PCOS who have failed first-line oral ovulation induction therapy and are anovulatory and infertile, with no other infertility factors.
- Surgery: Laparoscopic ovarian surgery can be a second-line therapy for people with PCOS, who are clomiphene citrate resistant.
- Weight loss drugs: People with PCOS are prone to weight gain due to insulin resistance, but can experience improvement of symptoms with sustained weight loss.
- Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs: People with PCOS experience higher rates of depression and anxiety, and a conventional medicine approach may extend to pharmaceutical treatments.
- Acne medication: A range of pharmaceutical and topical treatments may be explored for PCOS-associated acne.
The Melbourne Functional Medicine approach to PCOS
Personalised assessment and treatment of what’s causing your PCOS
The functional medicine approach to PCOS is also multifaceted, but instead of masking the symptoms, aims to address the underlying causes of the condition. Our PCOS specialists will first use functional testing methods to determine a range of contributing factors such as hormone levels, thyroid and adrenal function, and liver health, and then develop a protocol helping you with:
Balancing hormones
If hormone levels can be returned to balance, the ovaries can resume normal function, regulating periods, improving skin health and reducing new body hair growth. Our practitioners may support hormonal balance with anti-androgen herbal medicines like liquorice and white peony, which have been found to stimulate aromatase which converts testosterone to oestrogen. Inositol may also be used in conjunction with folate to reduce testosterone and hormone-mediated acne and hair growth. While Vitamin D can normalise Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) levels, which are excessive in PCOS.
Supporting thyroid function
An underactive thyroid increases the risk of PCOS. Interestingly, some conventional medications used for PCOS like Metformin, can have a detrimental effect on thyroid function. Iodine is crucial to the health of both the thyroid and ovaries, so increasing iodine intake with supplements or foods, such as seaweed and salt-water fish, may be beneficial for PCOS.
Healthy weight loss
Weight loss can improve insulin resistance, thereby reducing blood glucose and aiding hormonal balance. Current PCOS treatment guidelines recommend 150-250 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity or at least 75-minutes of vigorous exercise per week, including strength training on two non-consecutive days each week. Healthy weight loss can also be supported with a low-GI diet rich in whole foods, while generally avoiding inflammatory foods like gluten, dairy and sugar.
Stabilise blood glucose
In addition to dietary and lifestyle changes, blood glucose can be lowered with the use of various supplements including cinnamon, chromium, magnesium, berberine and probiotics.
Reduce stress
Chronic stress leads to impaired adrenal function, releasing stress hormones which elevate androgens. This creates a vicious cycle which contributes to mood disorders, weight gain, acne and unwanted hair growth, while also causing fatigue and exhaustion, which makes it difficult to exercise. Our practitioners can work with you to personalise a protocol helping you reduce stress levels, re-energise and improve moods, which may include a combination of herbal medicines as well as lifestyle changes including improved sleep, relaxation and mindset activities.
Ready for a personalised, natural functional medicine treatment?
Our unique model of care was designed with you in mind. Find out how, then book a call today
Frequently
Asked
Questions
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that affects how the ovaries function. It is linked with higher levels of androgenic (male-type) hormones and often involves irregular ovulation.
PCOS can cause symptoms such as irregular or absent periods, acne, excess hair growth, weight changes, and difficulties with fertility. It is also associated with insulin resistance and an increased risk of metabolic issues.
In Australia, PCOS affects up to one in ten women of childbearing age, and rates are higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
What causes PCOS?
The exact cause of PCOS is not fully understood, but several factors are known to play a role. These include:
- Family history and genetics: PCOS often runs in families, suggesting a strong genetic link
- Hormone imbalances: Higher levels of androgens (male-type hormones) and insulin resistance are common in women with PCOS and contribute to its development
- Lifestyle factors: Diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol intake can influence hormone balance and symptoms
PCOS usually develops from a combination of these factors rather than a single cause.
How to treat PCOS naturally?
The best natural approach to PCOS focuses on addressing the underlying factors that contribute to the condition. At Melbourne Functional Medicine, you can work with our PCOS naturopaths Vicki van der Meer and Lorraine Cussen (available in our Melbourne clinic or via telehealth), or our remote-based functional medicine practitioner Rebecca Hughes.
They use functional testing to assess key contributors such as hormone balance, thyroid and adrenal function, and liver health. From there, they develop a personalised plan that may include supporting hormone balance, improving thyroid function, stabilising blood sugar, encouraging healthy weight loss, and reducing stress.
Is PCOS genetic?
Yes. People with a mother, aunt, or sister with PCOS are 50 percent more likely to develop the condition, and PCOS is more than twice as prevalent among women of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
As with most chronic health issues, dietary, environmental and lifestyle factors can influence genes to express disease.
Do I have PCOS?
PCOS cannot be self-diagnosed. It is characterised as hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction, which is diagnosed by a medical practitioner along with testing.
The name polycystic ovary syndrome is misleading because the dark spots seen on ultrasound are not cysts, but follicles or underdeveloped eggs within the ovaries. This is why an ultrasound examination of the ovaries is not required for diagnosis of PCOS in women.
It’s also worth noting that some women can receive a diagnosis of PCOS, when they really have hypothalamic amenorrhoea, a condition where menstruation is halted due to dysfunctional signalling in the brain.
Often because women don’t menstruate for some time, it’s assumed that they have PCOS. The appearance of the ovaries on an ultrasound can be similar, however, treatments are different for both conditions.
What are the first signs of PCOS?
Some of the most common early signs of PCOS include:
- Irregular or absent menstrual cycles
- Acne or oily skin
- Stubborn weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Excess facial or body hair (hirsutism)
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, working with a functional medicine practitioner or naturopath experienced in PCOS can help explore the underlying factors and provide a personalised plan to support your hormonal health.
Why is PCOS now called PMOS?
In May 2026, a landmark global consensus study published in The Lancet officially renamed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The old name was found to be misleading – implying the condition is primarily about ovarian cysts, when in fact it is a complex, multisystem disorder affecting hormones, metabolism, mental health, skin, and the reproductive system. The new name better reflects the true nature of the condition and is hoped to reduce delayed diagnoses, fragmented care, and the stigma many people with PMOS have experienced. The name change will be fully implemented in clinical guidelines by 2028.
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