New NHS guidance encourages yearly checks for PMOS – research reveals contraception masks diagnosis for two thirds of UK women
Two thirds of women with PMOS or endometriosis (66%) say hormonal contraception masked their symptoms and delayed diagnosis –- leaving thousands struggling with fertility, battling exhausting symptoms and facing uncertainty about starting a family.
According to the new study from TFP Fertility, tell-tale signs like irregular periods, heavy bleeding and painful cycles are often dismissed as side effects of the pill or other contraceptives, allowing underlying conditions to go unnoticed for years.
The impact is even greater among younger women, with the research showing more than four in five (81%) of those aged 25-34 believe contraception delayed their diagnosis.
What’s more, over half (56%) of women say that living with PMOS or endometriosis has forced them to change their plans for having children. One in five (20%) felt pressure to start a family earlier than intended, while another 20% delayed parenthood and 16% have decided not to have children at all.
For those who did try to conceive, the process was often long and gruelling. More than a third (36%) managed to conceive naturally, but only after much longer than expected, while almost a quarter (24%) required fertility treatment such as IVF to achieve a chance at parenthood.
Delays to diagnosis remain a major barrier. Most women with PMOS are diagnosed between 18 and 34 (84%), yet for endometriosis almost a third (29%) weren’t diagnosed until after the age of 35 – a critical time for family planning.
For many, the delayed diagnosis has had life-changing consequences, according to the research.
Beyond fertility, symptoms of PMOS and endometriosis can take a heavy toll on daily life. Mood changes, anxiety and depression were the most common symptoms suffered by those with the conditions (54%), followed by irregular or absent periods (48%), weight gain (45%) and excess hair growth (34%).
While many women say they have thought about fertility preservation, very few have been able to act on it. Almost half (45%) said they have considered egg freezing, yet only 8% have actually taken the step, with cost, limited public funding and lack of awareness all being likely barriers.
For Nicola McDonald, a 36-year-old cabin crew member from Glasgow, those barriers felt all too real. Diagnosed with both PMOS and endometriosis in her early twenties, she always feared her fertility might be at risk.
When her marriage ended just as she and her husband were about to begin IVF, Nicola made the decision to freeze her eggs at TFP GCRM Fertility.
She said: “I didn’t really know where to go from there. I was thinking ‘I’ve got endometriosis and polycystic ovaries, I’ve not got a partner and by the time I meet someone it could be a few years down the line before we’re ready for the commitment of a child’. I didn’t want to lose my chance to be a mum.”
Strikingly, 92% of women feel there isn’t enough public awareness or support around PMOS, endometriosis and fertility, according to the latest research.
TFP Fertility is working to change this by offering a range of treatment options for women with PMOS and endometriosis, including egg freezing, IVF and prescribed medicines such as Clomifene and Letrozole to induce ovulation. Alongside treatment, the clinics provide expert guidance, compassionate care and emotional support to help women feel heard and informed at every stage of their fertility journey.
This research comes as September marks PMOS Awareness Month, a global campaign dedicated to raising understanding of polycystic ovary syndrome, pushing for earlier diagnosis and better support. PMOS affects around one in 10 reproductive-aged women, making it one of the most common endocrine disorders worldwide.1
Dr Justin Chu, Medical Director at TFP Fertility, said: “These findings show just how far we still have to go in raising awareness of gynaecological conditions like PMOS and endometriosis. Too often, symptoms are overlooked or misunderstood, with women left waiting years for answers. Delayed diagnoses mean delayed treatment – and for many women, this can mean putting their dreams of parenthood on hold.
“At TFP Fertility, we are committed to ensuring women have access to the right information so they can feel empowered and make informed decisions about their future. PMOS Awareness Month is an opportunity to shine a light on these conditions to ensure women feel heard, supported and equipped to make informed choices about their future.”
For more information about TFP Fertility and its support for women with PMOS, please visit: https://tfp-fertility.com/en-gb/fertility-guides/PMOS-and-fertility
