Our one-stop gynaecological service for private PMOS care

Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) (formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS) is a condition that affects how the ovaries work. It leads to infrequent ovulation and can often be associated with other metabolic diseases.

PMOS is a relatively common condition, affecting 1 in 10 females during their childbearing period.

Learn more from Mr Ahmed Abdelbar, consultant gynaecologist, about investigating and diagnosing women with PMOS symptoms, and how private care can improve the lives of these patients. 

A deeper understanding of PMOS 

There are various symptoms of PMOS but, in primary care, it’s important to be aware of women of children-bearing age presenting with: 

• absent or irregular periods 
• acne or oily skin  
• excessive hair growth on the face chest, or back 
• hair loss or receding hairline 

“The presence of any of these symptoms is enough to suggest PMOS, but we’ll officially diagnose women after performing blood tests to confirm hormone levels, and ultrasound scans to their ovaries,” notes Mr Abdelbar. 

In the cases of teenaged patients, who may experience irregular periods, blood tests can be particularly useful to differentiate age-related irregular cycles from PMOS-related irregular cycles. Blood tests also allow us to check for blood sugar levels, as raised levels can occur in association with PMOS. 

PMOS is not treated with surgery but instead requires medicine and lifestyle changes, which our team provide to patients as part of a personalised plan.

Raising awareness to improve early diagnosis 

A recent report revealed that over a third of women in the UK waited longer than 4 years for a PMOS diagnosis. 

Mr Abdelbar explains, “there are different reasons for these delays, but often it comes down to longer NHS waiting times for referrals, especially as PMOS can be challenging to identify in its early stages.”  

It’s not uncommon for women to be unaware that they have PMOS until they reach their early 30s and begin trying for a baby. Due to the length of time conception can take in healthy couples, women are often only referred and offered further investigations after a year of trying to conceive. This further delays the PMOS diagnosis. 

“The variation of symptoms can also make it quite tricky to be diagnosed in the community setting,” says Mr Abdelbar, “so we just need to raise awareness that women with these symptoms need to be seen by gynaecologists, sooner rather than later, to confirm if they have PMOS.” 

“Each woman will present with a different set of symptoms. However, it is important to remember that we are not treating the symptoms – we’re treating women – and our goal is to improve the quality of their lives and reduce their health risks” 

Championing a multidisciplinary approach 

Multidisciplinary care is a significant part of the care we provide to our PMOS patients. Although patients will primarily see a gynaecologist, our women’s health specialists also collaborate with consultants from various other specialties, such as: 

• cardiologists
• dieticians
• endocrinologists 
• fertility specialists
• psychologists
• respiratory physicians

With Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care made up of 5 hospitals, we’re proud of the breadth of care and specialties that our team can provide. “As PMOS has some genetic components, with lots of metabolic factors coming into play, it’s crucial that we work with colleagues from across the board to deliver quality care,” explains Mr Abdelbar. 

PMOS affects not only the ovaries but the whole of the body, and it can particularly impact weight and the ability to lose it. Women with PMOS often have insulin resistance, so a change in lifestyle, including diet and exercise, is crucial. Endocrinologists play an important part in the patient journey here, especially when it comes to weight loss treatments or medications, and working to reduce insulin resistance. 

One-stop clinic in state-of-the-art facilities 

2025 saw the renovation of our clinic at 79 Wimpole Street, with the installation of brand-new equipment for hysteroscopies and polyp removal, and updated facilities for every part of the patient journey. 

“We offer one-stop clinics, so women can come in and have the examination and ultrasound scan by the same consultant and on the same day. They can then have the blood tests with results available the next day, and receive a diagnosis within 24 hours,” explains Mr Abdelbar. 

We’re proud of our continuity of care, with the same consultant seeing the patient each time. This provides an improved patient experience with better communication, allowing for tailored PMOS treatment plans for each woman our team sees. 

“Additionally, we have a state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, with brand new hysteroscopy and polyp removal devices. These enable us to perform outpatient procedures in our new clinic, without the need for hospital admission” explains Mr Abdelbar.

A passion for diverse, life-changing care 

Mr Ahmed Abdelbar is a consultant gynaecologist who sees private patients at Wimpole Street Consulting Rooms and Diagnostic Centre. He offers minimal access surgery and cancer surgery, as well as seeing patients for more general gynaecological conditions such as PMOS. 

Mr Abdelbar shares his passion for his specialism: “I chose to go into obstetrics and gynaecology because you get 3 things that you don’t get in other specialties. You save lives by diagnosing and treating cancer, you improve the quality of lives by treating gynaecological conditions such as PMOS and fibroids, and you bring new lives into the world.” 

“I perform ultrasound scans, clinic based diagnostic procedures such as hysteroscopy and colposcopy, keyhole surgeries, and minor day case procedures too, so it’s a very diverse job with a huge amount of job satisfaction,” he continues. “I also have a lot of research interests in obstetrics and gynaecology, especially around gynaecological cancer and gynaecological surgery.” 

Mr Abdelbar completed his training at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and gained further experience at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, before returning to Guy’s and St Thomas’ in 2024 in time for the launch of our new private Women’s Health service. 

When to refer 

If female patients of child-bearing age are experiencing symptoms such as hair loss, acne, irregular or absent periods, inability to lose excess weight, or fertility issues, they can be referred to us for PMOS investigations. Our gynaecological specialists will perform thorough assessments to provide rapid diagnoses and treatment plans tailored to individuals.