Prof Ronald Ching-Wan Ma (left), a patient with PMOS (middle), and Dr Jacqueline Pui-Wah Chung (right)Offsprings of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – renamed as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) since May 2026 – exhibit cardiometabolic and reproductive alterations in young adulthood, researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have reported.
The comparative cohort study, conducted from August 2020 to February 2024, included 42 sons (mean age, 19.05 years) and 44 daughters (mean age, 18.09 years) of Chinese women with PMOS (PMOS-moms), who were compared with 242 sons (mean age, 18.03 years) and 264 daughters (mean age, 18.14 years) of Chinese women without PMOS. [Fertil Steril 2026;126:162-173]
Diverse abnormalities in offspring
“Daughters mainly present with reproductive and endocrine abnormalities, whereas sons face higher cardiometabolic risks in early adulthood,” reported principal investigator, Dr Noel Yat-Hey Ng of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, CUHK.
Both sons and daughters of PMOS-moms had greater central obesity (higher waist-to-hip ratio), which persisted after adjustment for maternal and offspring factors.
A higher unadjusted proportion of sons of PMOS-moms had hypertension (14.3 vs 3.7 percent) and metabolic syndrome (14.3 vs 3.7 percent), but these differences were attenuated after adjustment.
A higher proportion of daughters of PMOS-moms had reproductive abnormalities, including menstrual irregularity (58.3 vs 16.2 percent), biochemical hyperandrogenism (20 vs 25.5 percent) and PMOS diagnosis (11.0 vs 0 percent), even after adjustment for offspring and maternal factors.
“Although their blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity currently appear normal, a decline in insulin sensitivity due to factors such as obesity may make it more difficult for offspring of PMOS patients to compensate by increasing insulin secretion later. Over time, this may increase their risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” said Ng.
“These findings have important clinical and public health implications, confirming that PMOS affects not only the health of women with the condition, but also has multigenerational impacts. We recommend that young people with a family history of PMOS be targeted for early diagnosis and prevention, with early monitoring of both cardiometabolic and reproductive health,” said Professor Ronald Ching-Wan Ma of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, CUHK.
Why rename PCOS as PMOS?
PMOS affects one in eight women and has long been regarded as a gynaecological or ovarian disorder. PCOS, a misnomer, implies pathological ovarian cysts, and obscures the condition’s diverse endocrine and metabolic features, contributing to delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, and stigma, while curtailing research and policy framing. Following a rigorous global consensus process involving patients, multidisciplinary health professionals and organizations worldwide, PMOS was adopted as a more accurate name reflecting the condition’s diverse pathological features. The change was announced in May 2026, with a 3-year transition period for adoption supported by a global implementation strategy. [Lancet 2026;407:2329-2339]
“As the global medical community moves forward with renaming the condition, we will continue to deepen our research into its pathological mechanisms and explore clinical strategies,” said Ma.
“The cause of PMOS is highly complicated. The causal relationships between reproductive dysfunction and metabolic disorders remain controversial. Prospective studies on offspring of PMOS patients may be needed to clarify these relationships,” said Dr Jacqueline Pui-Wah Chung of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, CUHK.