What Does The Women's Health Strategy Mean For PCOS & Endometriosis? MyOva

Women's Health Strategy for England: What It Means for PMOS (PCOS) and Endometriosis

"Your bloods are normal." "It's just a bad period." "Come back if it gets worse." If you live with PMOS (PCOS), endometriosis or any other hormonal condition, you've probably heard at least one of those, and you've probably also spent years knowing your body was telling you something different.

You're not imagining it. In 2022 the government published its first Women's Health Strategy for England, after more than 100,000 people responded to its call for evidence, and 84% of survey respondents said there had been times they felt unheard by a healthcare professional [1]. Then, in April 2026, the strategy was relaunched. The 2022 version was withdrawn in May 2026 and replaced [2, 3].

So here is the plain answer. The renewed Women's Health Strategy promises faster routes into gynaecology care, better pain relief for procedures and more menstrual education [4]. It doesn't give PMOS (PCOS) its own commitments in any summary we could find. The bigger PMOS news is elsewhere: NICE has now published a draft guideline, with the final version due in December 2026 [5]. For endometriosis, the average wait for a diagnosis has risen to 9 years and 4 months [6]. The rest of this guide covers what changed, what it means in practice, and what you can do now. (For background on the new name, see our guide to PCOS being renamed PMOS, and if you're preparing for an appointment, our guide on how to advocate for yourself will help.)

An open paper diary beside a mug of tea, reading glasses and a closed laptop on a wooden table in soft daylight, set up for preparing for a GP appointment

In this guide:

What Is the Women's Health Strategy for England?

In short: It is a 10-year government plan for women's health in England. The first version came in July 2022 and a renewed one in April 2026.

The first strategy was published on 20 July 2022 as a ten-year vision for women's health in England [3]. It grew out of a public call for evidence. The government's own survey received 110,123 responses, of which 97,307 came from individuals in England [1].

What those responses said is the reason the strategy matters. More than 4 in 5 respondents (84%) said there had been times when they, or the woman they were answering for, felt they weren't listened to by healthcare professionals [1]. Fewer than 1 in 10 said they had enough information about the menopause (9%), and just 8% said the same about gynaecological conditions [1].

That list will feel familiar if you have PMOS (PCOS), endometriosis, PMDD or perimenopause. These aren't niche conditions. They're everyday reality for millions of women in the UK, and for too long they've been met with a shrug.

The 2022 strategy covered areas including menstrual health and gynaecological conditions, fertility and pregnancy, menopause and mental health [3]. On PCOS, it said NICE would consider developing a guideline through its usual prioritisation process [3]. That was a promise to consider, not a promise to deliver. Hold that thought, because four years later, something has happened.

Why Was the 2022 Strategy Replaced?

In short: The government published a renewed strategy on 15 April 2026 and withdrew the 2022 version on 20 May 2026, after criticism that change was too slow.

The Department of Health and Social Care published the Renewed Women's Health Strategy for England on 15 April 2026 [2]. The original 2022 page now carries a notice that the policy paper was withdrawn on 20 May 2026 because a renewed version had been published [3].

The renewed strategy is aligned with the government's 10 Year Health Plan, and it opened with unusually blunt language. Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged that the NHS has a culture of medical misogyny, a phrase that headlined coverage of the launch [7].

Two responses are worth knowing. The chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Sarah Owen, called it a national scandal that nearly half a million women are on hospital gynaecology waiting lists. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) said success will need "sustained investment, clear delivery plans, and transparent progress reporting" [7].

Notice what that means. After four years, the headline problem is still the one 84% of respondents named in 2022: being listened to. The strategy is a reset, not a finish line.

What Does the Renewed Strategy Commit To?

In short: Faster gynaecology access, pain relief standards for procedures, menstrual education funding and a menopause question at NHS Health Checks.

The full strategy runs to around 90 pages and the government's summary page is brief, so we've relied on the government's page and on published summaries of the document [2, 4, 7]. Please read the original if you want every detail. The commitments they describe include:

  • Menstrual problems prioritised. Problems caused by endometriosis, fibroids and adenomyosis are among the first pathways planned for the NHS Online virtual hospital [4].
  • Gynaecology referrals. A single point of access for gynaecology referrals within 3 years, so women reach the right professional at first contact [4, 7].
  • Pain relief. Standards for procedures such as hysteroscopy, so women give informed consent and are offered a choice of pain relief, also within 3 years [4].
  • Menstrual education. A new programme for girls, with an additional £1 million [4].
  • Menopause. A menopause question added to routine NHS Health Checks [4].
  • Innovation. A £1.5 million FemTech challenge fund [4].

Some of this is concrete, and the pain relief standard in particular answers years of women describing painful procedures without adequate options. But look at the dates. "Within 3 years" means a woman referred today may not see the change.

What Does the Renewed Strategy Mean for PMOS (PCOS)?

In short: We found no PMOS-specific strategy commitments, but a NICE draft guideline is out and the final version is expected in December 2026.

Here's the honest picture. None of the summaries of the renewed strategy that we found names PMOS (PCOS) as a priority [4, 7]. We haven't read every page of the document, so check it yourself. But the more meaningful PMOS news has come from outside the strategy.

The name has changed

In May 2026, an international consensus published in The Lancet renamed polycystic ovary syndrome. It is now polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS [8]. The new name reflects what the condition actually is: a hormonal and metabolic condition, not just a matter of ovarian cysts. The GMC has followed suit. In September 2026, its Medical Licensing Assessment content map, which sets out what UK medical graduates need to know, replaced PCOS with PMOS [9].

NICE has published a draft guideline

In 2022, the strategy said NICE would consider a PCOS guideline [3]. Four years on, NICE has a guideline in development. A draft guideline on PMOS went out for consultation from 1 July to 11 August 2026, and NICE expects to publish the final version in December 2026 [5]. NICE says PMOS affects around 1 in 8 women [5]. The WHO gives a similar range, an estimated 10 to 13% of women of reproductive age, and says up to 70% of those affected are undiagnosed [10]. Figures vary with the diagnostic criteria used [11].

The draft recommendations are worth knowing about, with one caution: a draft can change before it's final. As NICE describes them, the draft says that:

  • People with PMOS should be offered an annual review covering symptoms, treatment and long-term health risks.
  • Women with irregular cycles and signs of raised male hormones (androgens) should be investigated early.
  • PMOS shouldn't be ruled out in women after the menopause.
  • Mental health should be assessed at all ages.
  • Women planning a pregnancy should be given advice on weight, diet, nutrition, exercise, sleep and mental health [5].

An annual review would be a real change. Right now, many women are diagnosed and sent away with a leaflet and a prescription, and then nobody follows up. This is what I wish someone had told me when I was diagnosed at 19: PMOS isn't just a reproductive condition. It's a metabolic one, and it needs ongoing care, not a one-off appointment.

Medical training and schools

The GMC's inclusion of PMOS in its content map means new doctors are being assessed on it [9]. In schools, the statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance published in July 2025 lists menstrual and gynaecological health for secondary pupils, naming premenstrual syndrome, heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome [12]. Hormonal literacy isn't complicated, it's just rarely taught. This is the part of the system that's finally starting to move.

What Does the Renewed Strategy Mean for Endometriosis?

In short: Endometriosis is named as a priority, but the average UK diagnosis wait has risen to 9 years 4 months, with no clear published target.

Endometriosis features more clearly than PMOS. Menstrual problems caused by endometriosis are named among the first pathways planned for the virtual hospital [4], and coverage of the launch used endometriosis as an example of conditions with delayed diagnosis [7].

The numbers are the problem. Endometriosis UK reports an average diagnosis delay of 9 years and 4 months, rising to 11 years in diverse ethnic communities [6]. In 2020, the all-party parliamentary group on endometriosis found an average of 8 years [13]. The wait is getting longer, not shorter, despite four years of awareness.

Reports on the renewed strategy don't agree on whether it sets a numerical target for diagnosis times, and the government's summary page doesn't state one [2, 7]. Until a measurable target is published, treat it as an ambition rather than a promise.

The clinical guidance hasn't changed in a way that alters your options. NICE's endometriosis guideline (NG73) remains the reference for diagnosis and management [14]. If you want to understand where diet and supplements fit, our guide to endometriosis and inflammation goes through the evidence. The short version: observational diet studies are inconsistent [15], and no diet or supplement has been proven to treat endometriosis.

Is the Renewed Women's Health Strategy Funded?

In short: Only small ring-fenced sums have been reported. The RCOG again says delivery needs sustained investment, as it did back in 2022.

The figures reported so far are modest: £1 million for menstrual education and £1.5 million for a FemTech challenge fund [4]. Wider commitments, such as faster gynaecology access, depend on NHS capacity and budgets that these figures don't cover.

It's a pattern. In 2022, the RCOG said it was concerned about the lack of dedicated funding to deliver the original ambitions [16]. In 2023, the government announced £25 million over two years to expand women's health hubs, with at least one hub per integrated care system [17]. In 2026, the RCOG's president again stressed sustained investment, clear delivery plans and transparent reporting [7].

A plan without resource is a wish list. That's not cynicism, it's accountability, and it's the question to keep asking as the three-year deadlines approach.

What Can You Do While the System Catches Up?

In short: Track your symptoms, ask for guideline-based assessment, and weigh up lifestyle, mental health and supplement options with your clinician.

Your diagnosis is a starting point, not a verdict. Waiting for policy to change doesn't mean waiting to act. Here's what the evidence supports.

Bring a pattern, not just a feeling

Track your cycle dates, bleeding, pain scores, skin, hair, sleep and mood for two or three cycles. A one-page summary is far harder to dismiss than "my periods are bad". For PMOS, diagnosis in adults generally needs two of three features: irregular or absent ovulation, signs or blood tests showing raised androgens, and polycystic-appearing ovaries on ultrasound or a high anti-Müllerian hormone level, as set out in the 2023 international guideline [18]. Our guide to the blood tests to ask for shows you what to request.

Ask about mental health, too

This isn't extra. A meta-analysis of 30 studies found women with PCOS had about 3.8 times the odds of depressive symptoms and 5.6 times the odds of anxiety symptoms compared with women without it [19]. Asking for support is part of good care, and NICE's draft says mental health should be assessed [5].

Lifestyle: useful, but be realistic

The international guideline includes lifestyle management among its recommendations [18]. A Cochrane review of 15 trials in 498 women found low-quality evidence that lifestyle changes may improve the free androgen index and weight, and none of the included studies reported menstrual regularity [20]. That's a reason to look for support that suits you, not a reason to blame yourself if it hasn't fixed everything.

Supplements: an optional extra, not a plan

A 2024 systematic review for the international guideline looked at 30 trials of inositol in PCOS and concluded that the evidence is limited and inconclusive, and that decisions should be shared between you and your clinician [21]. If you're trying to conceive, the NHS advises a 400 microgram folic acid supplement every day, ideally starting 3 months before and continuing until 12 weeks of pregnancy [22].

Endometriosis: push for the next step

If your pain is affecting your life, ask directly whether endometriosis could be the cause, and ask for a referral if symptoms persist. NICE's guideline puts pain relief and hormonal treatment first [14]. You are allowed to be believed.

Where Does MyOva Fit In?

In short: MyOva makes food supplements, not treatments. They're an optional extra to discuss with your GP, not a substitute for care.

MyOva makes Myoplus and Endoplus, so you deserve the straight version. Neither is a treatment for PMOS or endometriosis, and neither replaces medical care.

Myoplus provides 4000 mg of myo-inositol a day with chromium, folate and vitamin B6. Chromium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels. Folate contributes to normal psychological function and to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity. As the 2024 review above shows, the evidence on inositol itself is limited and inconclusive [21].

MyOva Myoplus Myo-Inositol supplement
Daily Food Supplement
Myoplus Myo-Inositol

4000 mg myo-inositol a day with chromium, which contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels, plus vitamin B6 and folate.

Endoplus contains turmeric, ginger, boswellia, reishi, green tea, rosemary, resveratrol, peony root and schisandra, plus vitamin B6. The botanicals are included on the basis of traditional use, and trials haven't shown that they ease endometriosis pain. Our endometriosis and inflammation guide sets out that evidence in full.

MyOva Endoplus supplement
Daily Food Supplement
Endoplus

Turmeric, ginger, boswellia, reishi, green tea, rosemary, resveratrol, peony and schisandra, with vitamin B6, which contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity. Vegan.

Safety first. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before taking any herbal supplement if you take other medicines, including hormonal contraceptives or blood thinners. If you take medicines for diabetes, check before adding any supplement that affects blood glucose. Endoplus is not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding unless a doctor advises it. Food supplements shouldn't replace a varied diet or medical treatment.

Infographic titled Women's Health Strategy: Where Things Stand in 2026, a timeline showing the 2022 strategy, the PMOS rename in May 2026, the renewed strategy in April 2026, the NICE PMOS draft consultation in July and August 2026, and the final NICE guideline expected in December 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2022 Women's Health Strategy still in force?

No. The Department of Health and Social Care withdrew the 2022 policy paper on 20 May 2026, after publishing the Renewed Women's Health Strategy for England on 15 April 2026 [3, 2].

Does the Women's Health Strategy cover PMOS (PCOS)?

None of the summaries of the renewed strategy that we found names PMOS as a priority [4, 7]. The main PMOS development is the NICE draft guideline, with the final version expected in December 2026 [5].

Will endometriosis diagnosis times fall?

That's the aim, but reports differ on whether a numerical target exists. The latest average wait is 9 years and 4 months [6, 7]. Watch for a published target and for the single point of access for gynaecology referrals.

Does the strategy cover perimenopause and menopause?

Yes. It plans to add a menopause question to routine NHS Health Checks [4]. Separately, since April 2023 an HRT prescription prepayment certificate has capped the cost of HRT prescriptions in England [23]. Our perimenopause guide covers what to expect.

What is the NICE PMOS guideline?

It's a guideline in development called Polycystic ovary syndrome: assessment and management. The draft was consulted on from 1 July to 11 August 2026 [5]. It is not final until NICE publishes it.

The Bottom Line

The Women's Health Strategy has been reset, and a few things have moved: a renamed condition, a draft NICE guideline, PMOS in medical training, and PCOS and endometriosis named in school guidance. But the gaps are the same ones women pointed to in 2022. Diagnosis waits are longer, PMOS has no specific strategy commitments, and funding is still the open question.

The research on what you can do today is a mix of clear and uncertain, and it's worth knowing which is which. Hormonal literacy isn't complicated, it's just rarely taught. Track your symptoms, ask for the assessment the guidelines describe, and take your pattern to someone who can act on it. Your body is trying to tell you something, and you don't have to wait for a policy paper to take it seriously.

Related Reading

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Policy details are accurate to the sources cited at the time of writing and may change. MyOva products are food supplements, not medicines, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you think you may have PMOS (PCOS) or endometriosis, or your symptoms are changing, speak to your GP or a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your treatment or supplements.

References

  1. Department of Health and Social Care. Results of the ‘Women’s Health: Let’s Talk About It’ survey. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/womens-health-strategy-call-for-evidence/outcome/results-of-the-womens-health-lets-talk-about-it-survey
  2. Department of Health and Social Care. Renewed Women's Health Strategy for England. Published 15 April 2026. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewed-womens-health-strategy-for-england
  3. Department of Health and Social Care. Women's Health Strategy for England. Published 20 July 2022; withdrawn 20 May 2026. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/womens-health-strategy-for-england/womens-health-strategy-for-england
  4. Patient Safety Learning. Renewed Women's Health Strategy for England (15 April 2026): summary of key elements. the hub. https://www.pslhub.org/learn/patient-safety-in-health-and-care/womens-health/renewed-women%E2%80%99s-health-strategy-for-england-15-april-2026-r14302/
  5. NICE. NICE recommends annual review for PMOS in new draft guideline aimed at improving diagnosis and care. News, 1 July 2026; and NICE guideline in development GID-NG10436, Polycystic ovary syndrome: assessment and management. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/GID-NG10436
  6. Endometriosis UK. Average diagnosis delay of 9 years 4 months, 11 years for diverse ethnic communities. News, 15 April 2026. https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/node/1500
  7. EMJ. England relaunches Women's Health Strategy amid medical misogyny. 2026. https://www.emjreviews.com/general-healthcare/news/england-relaunches-womens-health-strategy-amid-medical-misogyny/
  8. Teede HJ, et al. Renaming of polycystic ovary syndrome as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), international consensus. The Lancet. May 2026. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00717-8
  9. General Medical Council. Medical Licensing Assessment content map. Published October 2025; change log notes PCOS replaced by PMOS in September 2026. https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/medical-licensing-assessment/mla-content-map
  10. World Health Organization. Polycystic ovary syndrome. Fact sheet, 22 January 2026. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/polycystic-ovary-syndrome
  11. Bozdag G, Mumusoglu S, Zengin D, Karabulut E, Yildiz BO. The prevalence and phenotypic features of polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod. 2016;31(12):2841-2855.
  12. Department for Education. Relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education: statutory guidance. July 2025. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68761d6b39d0452326e28e6f/RSHE_statutory_guidance_-_July_2025_.pdf
  13. All-Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis. Endometriosis in the UK: time for change. Inquiry report. October 2020.
  14. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Endometriosis: diagnosis and management (NG73). Updated 2 September 2025. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73
  15. Parazzini F, Viganò P, Candiani M, Fedele L. Diet and endometriosis risk: a literature review. Reprod Biomed Online. 2013;26(4):323-336. doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2012.12.011
  16. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. RCOG responds to the Women's Health Strategy for England. 20 July 2022. https://www.rcog.org.uk/news/rcog-responds-to-the-women-s-health-strategy-for-england/
  17. Department of Health and Social Care. £25 million for women's health hub expansion. GOV.UK, March 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/25-million-for-womens-health-hub-expansion
  18. Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven JJE, et al. Recommendations from the 2023 international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2023;120(4):767-793. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.07.025
  19. Cooney LG, Lee I, Sammel MD, Dokras A. High prevalence of moderate and severe depressive and anxiety symptoms in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod. 2017;32(5):1075-1091.
  20. Lim SS, Hutchison SK, Van Ryswyk E, Norman RJ, Teede HJ, Moran LJ. Lifestyle changes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3:CD007506.
  21. Fitz V, Graca S, Mahalingaiah S, et al. Inositol for polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis to inform the 2023 update of the international evidence-based PCOS guidelines. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024;109(6):1630-1655. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgad762
  22. NHS. Vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy. https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/pregnancy/vitamins-and-supplements-in-pregnancy/
  23. Department of Health and Social Care. Hormone replacement therapy prescription prepayment certificate. GOV.UK, April 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-37700-women-access-cheaper-hormone-replacement-therapy-scheme
Leila Martyn

Leila Martyn

Leila is the founder of MyOva, a UK-based hormonal health brand for women with PMOS (PCOS), endometriosis, perimenopause, PMDD and fertility challenges. Drawing on lived experience and scientific research, she shares evidence-based guidance to help women understand their hormones and cycles.

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References