What You Missed | May 2026
Science moves fast, and interesting discoveries often pass by before we’ve had a chance to unpack them. This series is your monthly catch up with a science‑savvy friend – it’s evidence-based, accessible, and a little curious. Each post highlights exciting new women’s health or sex and gender research from around the globe and asks the question: what does this really tell us about how our minds, bodies, and societies work?
Authors: Tashi Stampp and Romina Garcia de Leon (Blog Coordinators)
Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome
Authors: Helena J. Teede., Mahnaz Bahri Khomami., Rachel Morman., Joop S. E. Laven., Anju E. Joham., Michael F. Costello., Madhuri Patil., D. Aled Rees., Lorna Berry., Melanie G. Cree., Han Zhao., Robert J. Norman., Anuja Dokras., Terhi Piltonen., & on behalf of the Global Name Change Consortium.
Journal: The Lancet
Where is this research coming from? International
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), has been renamed as Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). PMOS affects women in several ways, and this new name is meant to represent that. The condition can impact metabolic health, reproductive health, mental health and even the health of your skin. Worldwide, more than 170 million women are affected by this condition. The former name, PCOS, focused heavily on the term “polycystic”, which often led people to believe the condition was defined by harmful ovarian cysts. This misunderstanding has contributed to confusion among patients, health care providers and the public. In some cases, this led to delays in diagnosis, treatment and quality of care. The authors note that in some cultures where reproductive health and fertility are highly valued, women diagnosed with the condition may experience feelings of shame, stigma or even emotional distress because of the negative associations tied.
To address these concerns, a multidisciplinary team made up of clinicians, researchers, and people living with the condition worked together to develop a new name: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome. The process involved extensive evaluation and collaboration, all transparently documented by their research team (i.e., Delphii survey process, group workshops and marketing analysis). The new name is considered not only reflective of the actual clinical features of the condition, but also more culturally sensitive and psychologically safe for women around the world.
What does this mean? As the new name becomes widely used in clinical care and community spaces, it may help people better recognise and understand the condition and its symptoms. This could lead to earlier diagnoses, better care, funding and improved support for women globally. The involvement of patients throughout the renaming process was crucial. This is an example of clinical decision making that is not only scientifically informed, but also reflective of the lives of real people.
Questions We’re Pondering
- There has been some backlash on the name change with an article claiming:
“We believe the effort and resources that have gone into crafting and unveiling this name change siphoned limited resources and bandwidth away from the critical research, training, and advocacy for better diagnosis and treatment pathways — including a cure — all sorely needed for people with PCOS. It appears that a once very united PCOS/PMOS community is now divided over this prominent decision.”
This perspective raises the question of whether this first step in raising awareness to PCOS/PMOS is accomplishing what those involved in changing the name intended to do?
- Would treating mental health disorders like depression or anxiety be different in individuals with PMOS?
- Considering the mental and social implications of this name change, could self-identifying with PMOS improve for women’s quality of life?
Endometriosis, Trauma and Equitable Care
Authors: Rachel Warner & Jodie C. Avery
Journal: Women’s Reproductive Health
Where is this research coming from? Australia
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (ie., endometrium) grows outside of the uterus. Symptoms include severe pelvic pain, debilitating menstrual cramps and pain during or after sexual intercourse. Endometriosis is widely known to be underdiagnosed and undertreated, especially in people from marginalized communities. In this narrative review, the researchers challenged the dominant biomedical conversation surrounding endometriosis. They argue that traditional approaches to diagnosis and treatment often fail to account for how experiences of trauma, discrimination, disability, gender diversity, racism, and other social factors shape people’s interactions with the health care system.
To explore these issues, the authors reviewed existing research on endometriosis, trauma, intersectionality and health care inequities. They screened relevant studies and identified 65 articles to include into their analysis. Four themes came out of their analysis: (1) medical dismissal and diagnostic delay, (2) trauma as a magnifier of pain and vulnerability, (3) intersectional erasure in research and clinical care, and (4) resistance and self-advocacy in marginalized communities.
What does this mean? Endometriosis research should focus not only on biology, but also mental health, diverse identities and advocacy in order to help improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
Many people with endometriosis have their symptoms dismissed as “normal period pain”. This dismissal can contribute to worsening symptoms and mental health.This experience is intensified for people who are seen as the “ideal patient” – white, in athletic shape, middle-class, heterosexual or cisgender. The authors also shed light on trauma-informed care and call for the inclusion of transgender, gender-diverse, and nonbinary people in research and clinical practice. Ultimately, reproductive justice and feminist frameworks are needed to create more equitably informed endometriosis care.
Questions We’re Pondering
- Why aren’t reproductive justice and feminist frameworks more fully integrated into women’s healthcare today? We know the benefits, so what is holding back this shift?
- How do healthcare providers actually understand and define endometriosis in practice and does that understanding include the mental and social dimensions of the condition?
- Could normalizing a more holistic mind-body approach help better reflect and advocate for the diverse realities of people living with women’s health conditions?
Menstrual Cycle Care
Authors: Lambert, Ellen R., Nolan, Louise N & Schmalenberger, Katja M
Journal: British Journal of Clinical Psychology
Where is this research coming from? London and Germany
Hormonal shifts, also known as fluctuations, during the menstrual cycle can affect mood, energy, and cognitive functioning, but for most people these changes are mild and do not disrupt daily life. In fact, 90% of people who menstruate experience mental or physical changes that do not require medical intervention. These hormonal shifts are a normal part of the menstrual cycle and should be normalized in discussions about women’s mental health.
For the people who do experience moderate to severe changes in their mood during their menstrual cycle, it can have an impact on their daily life. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a mood disorder that severely impacts emotions and behaviour at consistent times in a person’s period cycle. Symptoms include (but aren’t limited to) depressed mood, rumination, difficulty concentrating, breast tenderness, bloating, and anxiety or mood swings. Importantly, those who have pre-existing psychiatric disorders can experience significantly worse symptoms, known as premenstrual exacerbations (PME).
Clinical psychology training programs are lacking information on cycle-sensitive assessment and treatment, despite clinicians accepting that the menstrual cycle is a “vital sign” that is important for psychiatric assessments. Importantly, the authors mention that “PMDs sit at the intersection of gynaecology, psychiatry and psychology, yet no single discipline currently holds clear responsibility for their treatment.” To address this problem, the authors explored gold-standard evidence and best-practices to support those who menstruate and are experiencing PMDD and PME. The gold standard strategies that were identified were: (1) daily symptom tracking of menstrual cycles; (2) providing menstrual cycle-information incorporating both timing and symptoms; and (3) creating evidence-informed interventions to help predict cyclical patterns. The authors also highlight that people who suffer from PMDs can fall into different categories of symptom timing. This information is vital in helping individuals navigate their mood symptoms.
What does this mean? The menstrual cycle is a critical time for people living with chronic mood disorders. Integrating menstrual-cycle informed approaches into mental health care can help clinicians better identify and distinguish between PMDD and PME, leading to more targeted and effective treatment.
Questions We’re Pondering
- How can we improve public understanding of conditions like PMDD and PME so that people can better recognize and distinguish between menstrual-related mood changes and more persistent mood disorders?
- How can providers ensure their assessments of menstrual-related mental health symptoms go beyond assumptions about “normal” period changes? Also, how are clinicians in different countries treating the menstrual cycle as a “vital sign” in their psychiatric assessments?
- Given that disorders like PMDD/PME are cyclical, and may be misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder, could these new guidelines reduce misdiagnoses?
