Why Women with PCOS Have 3x More Gum Disease (And What It Means for Your Hormones)
7 hours ago
- PCOS has been renamed PMOS to reflect a whole-body condition
Christine Horton explains that after a 14-year review process, PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) was officially renamed PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome) in May 2026. The change moves the condition beyond a narrow fertility/ovarian focus to acknowledge its hormonal and metabolic scope — important since 70–80% of women with PMOS have a metabolic component, yet roughly 70% of women with the condition remain undiagnosed. - Oral inflammation and hormones form a bi-directional loop
Christine describes the mouth as a “window into the body,” with gum inflammation allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream and drive systemic inflammation. This connects directly to conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and pregnancy complications. The relationship runs both ways — treating oral inflammation can lower A1C, while hormonal shifts (like pregnancy) can inflame gums even without any change in oral hygiene. - Women with PMOS face a compounded inflammation risk — but have accessible tools to help
Women with PMOS have about 3x the rate of periodontal disease along with elevated androgens and insulin, creating a “firestorm” of baseline inflammation. Christine offers three low-cost starting points: getting baseline dental/medical checkups (including periodontal stage and grade), prioritizing one daily joy-based stress reliever, and auditing personal care products for inflammatory irritants.
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