POMS (formerly SOPK): what you need to know before making important decisions
Updated on
August 6, 2026
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Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
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Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
What is a medical second opinion?
What is a medical second opinion?
Following a diagnosis or a proposed treatment plan, a medical specialist can analyze your file and provide an additional perspective.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Many partner health insurance providers cover the Diagdoor service with no upfront costs. Check your eligibility as soon as you create your account.
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Are you looking for a second opinion for a loved one?
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How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
Upload your medical documents online; our team will review your file within 48 hours, and an expert will provide their opinion in less than 7 days. Simple, secure, 100% online.
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Not sure if your case is eligible?
Our medical team can guide you before you submit your request. Describe your situation, and we will help you determine if Diagdoor can be of assistance.
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SOPK was officially renamed POMS (Polyendocrine Ovarian Metabolic Syndrome) on May 12, 2026. This new name reflects a clinical reality: the syndrome involves hormones, metabolism, and several endocrine axes simultaneously. For women already receiving care as well as those seeking answers, understanding this syndrome in its entirety changes how you approach its management.
Key points
- POMS was officially renamed SMOP (Polyendocrine Ovarian Metabolic Syndrome) on May 12, 2026: it is the same syndrome, with a name that better reflects its multisystemic nature.
- This hormonal syndrome affects 1 in 8 women of reproductive age and involves the ovaries, androgens, and metabolism.
- There are 4 distinct phenotypes: two women diagnosed with POMS may present with symptoms and require very different treatment plans.
- There is no cure, but there are symptomatic treatments tailored to each patient's profile and goals.
From SOPK to POMS: definition, mechanism, and forms of the syndrome
POMS is a hormonal syndrome characterized by three types of abnormalities that can combine in different ways: irregular menstrual cycles or absent periods linked to disrupted ovulation, hyperandrogenism (high levels of androgen hormones, reflected biologically or clinically by acne and hirsutism), and polycystic ovarian morphology on imaging. The term "polycystic" in the old name POMS was inaccurate: these are not pathological cysts, but immature follicles stuck during the maturation process.
The new name, POMS, reflects the more comprehensive reality of the syndrome: it also involves insulin resistance, glucose and lipid metabolism, and several hormonal axes simultaneously. POMS presents in 4 distinct phenotypes, defined by the Rotterdam criteria:
- Phenotype A : irregular cycles + hyperandrogenism + polycystic ovarian morphology, the most common and well-documented form
- Phenotype B : irregular cycles + hyperandrogenism, without typical polycystic ovarian morphology
- Phenotype C : hyperandrogenism + polycystic ovarian morphology, with regular cycles
- Phenotype D : irregular cycles + polycystic ovarian morphology, without hyperandrogenism, a form often less pronounced hormonally
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1 in 8 women
of reproductive age affected
Up to 70%
of affected women remain undiagnosed
3 to 5 years
average delay between first symptoms and diagnosis
Symptoms vary from one woman to another
POMS does not manifest uniformly. Menstrual cycle disorders (cycles longer than 35 days, irregular, or absent) are the most common sign. Hyperandrogenism can manifest as persistent acne after age 20, hirsutism (male-pattern hair growth), or scalp hair loss. Persistent fatigue and brain fog are reported by many patients but are often underestimated in clinical care. 20 to 30% of affected women are not overweight: the so-called "classic" clinical picture does not apply to everyone.
Diagnosing POMS : criteria, examinations, and differential diagnosis
POMS is diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria: two out of three criteria are sufficient to confirm the diagnosis. These three criteria are cycle irregularities, hyperandrogenism (clinical or biochemical), and polyfollicular ovarian morphology on imaging. Since the 2023 ESHRE/Monash guidelines, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) testing can replace pelvic ultrasound in adult women. A differential diagnosis is necessary to rule out other causes, including hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, or congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Symptomatic treatments tailored to each goal
There is no cure for POMS : treatments are symptomatic and adjusted to the patient's goals. To regulate cycles and reduce hyperandrogenism, combined oral contraceptives are prescribed as a first-line treatment. For women wishing to conceive, letrozole is recommended as a first-line option according to the 2023 ESHRE guidelines. Since May 2026, HAS recommendations have included tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for POMS profiles associated with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
When a second opinion clarifies your POMS journey
POMS is a multisystem syndrome with manifestations that vary from one patient to another: a specialized review of your complete medical file helps identify your phenotype and determine the appropriate management for your situation. A second opinion can be useful in cases of diagnostic uncertainty, before starting long-term treatment, or when considering a surgical option like ovarian drilling. The May 2026 renaming is also an opportunity for previously diagnosed patients to check in with a POMS expert. Diagdoor provides access to a specialized gynecologist in under 7 days, often covered by health insurance or supplemental plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is POMS (formerly SOPK)?
POMS is a hormonal syndrome characterized by cycle irregularities, hyperandrogenism, and/or polyfollicular ovarian morphology on imaging. It affects 1 in 8 women of reproductive age and presents in 4 distinct phenotypes.
What is the difference between SOPK and POMS?
SOPK and POMS refer to the same syndrome: only the name changed in May 2026, following an international consensus led by the Endocrine Society and 56 global organizations. The new name better reflects the metabolic and polyendocrine nature of the syndrome, extending beyond the ovaries alone.
Is POMS a serious condition?
POMS is a chronic condition that can significantly impact quality of life, fertility, and metabolism, depending on the patient's profile. Appropriate care helps manage symptoms and ensures proper long-term follow-up.
How many women are affected by POMS in France?
The WHO estimates that POMS affects approximately 1 in 8 women of reproductive age worldwide, representing several million women in France. According to available data, up to 70% of them remain undiagnosed.
Can POMS go away with age?
POMS is a chronic condition that evolves with age but does not disappear. After menopause, some hormonal symptoms may subside, while the metabolic component requires long-term monitoring.
Need the opinion of a
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Upload your file to Diagdoor. A
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analyzes it and provides a reasoned opinion in less than 7 days.
Sources
- INSERM, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (POMS), 2024
- Ameli.fr, Understanding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, 2026
- World Health Organization (WHO), Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, 2023
- Asso'SOPK, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Teede HJ et al., International evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome, ESHRE/Monash University, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2023;108:2447-2469
- HAS, Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) recommendations, May 2026
Further Reading
Why get a second opinion?
Understand the situations in which a second opinion can help you confirm a diagnosis or guide your treatment plan.
How does it work?
Understand the situations in which a second opinion can help you confirm a diagnosis or guide your treatment plan.
Did you know?
The follicles visible on an ultrasound in POMS are not pathological cysts. They are follicles that have not reached the maturity required for ovulation. This distinction explains why the renaming to PMOS is medically more accurate, and why the old name frequently caused confusion for patients.
Have you been offered surgery?
Have you been offered surgery?
Surgery is never trivial. A medical specialist will analyze your file to confirm the recommendation or explore other therapeutic options.
Is there an alternative to surgery?
Is there an alternative to surgery?
A surgeon specializing in your condition will re-evaluate your file to confirm if surgery is necessary or to identify less invasive solutions.
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
An expert physician will analyze your medical records and history to help you choose the most appropriate strategy for your situation, whether it be medical treatment, surgery, or monitoring.
Torn between two treatments?
Torn between two treatments?
A specialist will explain exactly what each option entails, including effectiveness, side effects, and daily impact, so you can make your decision with confidence.
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
A specialist doctor will analyze your complete file (tests, imaging, medical history) to provide you with a reasoned diagnosis and guide your care.
Have you just received a diagnosis?
Have you just received a diagnosis?
Have you just received a diagnosis?
Have your medical file reviewed by a specialist in your condition. You will receive an additional opinion in less than 7 days, helping you move forward with clarity.
Is your condition rare or complex?
Is your condition rare or complex?
Diagdoor gives you access to a doctor who specializes in your condition to confirm your treatment plan, no matter where you live.
When facing cancer or a serious illness, every decision counts.
When facing cancer or a serious illness, every decision counts.
A doctor at an expert center will review your file to confirm your care plan, clarify the available options, and help you make decisions with confidence.
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
What is a medical second opinion?
What is a medical second opinion?
Following a diagnosis or a proposed treatment plan, a medical specialist can analyze your file and provide an additional perspective.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Many partner health insurance providers cover the Diagdoor service with no upfront costs. Check your eligibility as soon as you create your account.
Are you looking for a second opinion for a loved one?
Are you looking for a second opinion for a loved one?
The process is entirely online. Upload your available medical documents, and our team will take care of the rest.
How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
Upload your medical documents online; our team will review your file within 48 hours, and an expert will provide their opinion in less than 7 days. Simple, secure, 100% online.
Not sure if your case is eligible?
Not sure if your case is eligible?
Our medical team can guide you before you submit your request. Describe your situation, and we will help you determine if Diagdoor can be of assistance.
Need the opinion of a
gynecologist
Need the opinion of a
gynecologist
Upload your file to Diagdoor. A
gynecologist
specialist
of POMS
analyzes it and provides a reasoned opinion in less than 7 days.
