Image credit: Leslie (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome), previously known as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), is a condition affecting the body's metabolism, reproductive system, hormones and skin. It affects an estimated 8–13% of women. Healthcare professionals diagnose PMOS based on a combination of irregular menstrual periods, signs of higher levels of hormones called androgens, and changes in the ovaries, after ruling out other causes. The condition is associated with a wide range of symptoms that can have a major impact on quality of life.
Pain has been linked to PMOS, but little is known about the different types of pain women experience, such as menstrual pain versus abdominal or pelvic pain. Even less is known about the long-term health effects of pain in women with PMOS, or whether these effects differ across racial groups. To address these questions, Cherlin et al. analysed electronic health records, which contain information on patients' diagnoses, medications and procedure codes. This allowed them to examine long-term health patterns in a very large population.
The researchers investigated whether women with PMOS experience more pain than women without the condition. They also examined whether women with both PMOS and pain were at greater risk of developing future health problems than women with PMOS overall. In addition, they explored differences in pain across self-reported racial groups and assessed whether commonly prescribed PMOS medications influenced pain symptoms.
Using electronic health records data from more than 100 million women worldwide, Cherlin et al. found that 21% of women with PMOS experienced pain, with the highest prevalence among Black or African American women (33%). Overall, women with PMOS were at increased risk of developing a range of health conditions, including infertility, type 2 diabetes and liver disease. Women with both PMOS and pain had an even greater risk of several conditions, including ovarian cysts, anxiety, depression, acute pharyngitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Women who were prescribed common PMOS medications experienced reduced pain after treatment.
These findings could inform improved care for women with PMOS, particularly the one in five who experience pain. They highlight the need for routine pain assessment and management to become part of standard PMOS care. The results also suggest that racial differences should be considered when developing more personalised treatment strategies, as the impact of PMOS and pain varied across self-reported racial groups. Overall, this research provides new insight into the relationship between PMOS and pain and may help improve diagnosis, treatment and long-term patient care.
