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The planetary determination to rename Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) arsenic Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) is simply a culmination of a decade-long collaboration betwixt doctors, researchers, and diligent groups. Led by Professor Helena Teede, Director of the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation successful Melbourne, the rationale for the alteration was published successful The Lancet past month. At the bosom of the renaming was a increasing designation that the word PCOS could not seizure the condition’s complexity, and reduced it to a reproductive upset centred connected the ovaries. It is simply a agelong overdue acknowledgement of the condition’s multisystem quality arsenic PMOS manifests done a wide scope of endocrine, metabolic, reproductive, psychological, and dermatological symptoms.
India’s FemTech response
Yet, adjacent arsenic the ceremonial aesculapian renaming to PMOS is enforced, India’s FemTech (female technology) manufacture had already begun treating PCOS arsenic a multisystem condition. A insubstantial published successful 2024 by the authors of this nonfiction titled, “Platforming PCOS Treatment Online: FemTech Logics of Care,” showed however FemTech platforms curated integrated attraction packages that brought unneurotic wide practitioners, diabetologists, endocrinologists, gynaecologists, dermatologists, nutritionists, fittingness trainers, and psychologists to dainty PCOS.
Backed by task superior funding, FemTech platforms conducted extended marketplace probe to place the gaps successful accepted healthcare systems that stymied the semipermanent absorption of PCOS. Several level founders were themselves women who had struggled to navigate gynaecological attraction that centred fertility and value nonaccomplishment arsenic the idiosyncratic work of patients. Their experiences shaped the emergence of platforms that framed PCOS arsenic requiring coordinated and semipermanent care. Platforms besides sought to amended doctor-patient interactions by grooming gynaecologists to debar prejudiced connection astir marital status, fertility, and assemblage weight. Since galore aspects of PMOS absorption could beryllium coordinated remotely, integer consultations besides offered women greater privateness and flexibility successful a civilization that stigmatises unmarried women visiting gynaecologists unchaperoned.
PMOS often archetypal appears done irregular menstrual cycles. The underlying hormonal and metabolic imbalances tin stay poorly understood for years delaying treatment. In some families and objective settings, it is viewed chiefly done the lens of fertility and value loss, generating shame and anxiousness astir matrimony prospects and hostility wrong marriages itself.
FemTech platforms positioned themselves arsenic offering an integrated and non-judgemental attack to PCOS care. They foregrounded its multifaceted nature, and arsenic of 2025, India’s FemTech marketplace was estimated to beryllium worthy $1.48 billion.
Limits of privatised care
However, reliance connected FemTech platforms creates caller vulnerabilities for semipermanent healthcare delivery. First, entree to these platforms depends connected the quality to spend uninterrupted net connectivity and recurring subscription costs. As a result, these services cater disproportionately to urban, digitally savvy women. For astir people, gynaecologists successful accepted healthcare systems are usually the archetypal constituent of interaction erstwhile they commencement showing PMOS symptoms. Strengthening these systems is truthful indispensable to nationalist health.
Second, arsenic start-ups, FemTech platforms are susceptible to marketplace volatility. They are babelike connected capitalist confidence. None of the level founders who were interviewed had secured backing beyond the preliminary ‘Series A round’ and 1 of the platforms had to cease operations stranding patients. In the lack of regulatory safeguards, these issues weaken FemTech platforms’ assertion of being robust alternatives to accepted healthcare systems.
Third, portion platforms effort to amended gynaecologist-patient interactions, scaling specified interventions is challenging without broader reforms successful aesculapian acquisition and objective training. The shortage of gynaecologists successful India, peculiarly successful agrarian regions, further intensifies this challenge.
The larger healthcare crisis
Therefore, portion FemTech platforms code a existent and underserved need, they arsenic bespeak deeper infrastructural failures. The semipermanent solution to conditions specified arsenic PMOS requires concern successful nationalist healthcare infrastructure and aesculapian acquisition that determination beyond a narrow, fertility-first framework. Doctor-patient interactions indispensable go much inclusive and respectful to women. At the aforesaid time, it is important to recognise the strain nether which gynaecologists work, peculiarly successful nationalist hospitals. Overcrowded conditions, precocious diligent volumes, and inadequate infrastructure permission small country for privateness and counselling. While FemTech platforms whitethorn easiness immoderate pressures by coordinating attraction digitally, they cannot substitute nationalist healthcare.
Moreover, discussions astir PMOS seldom prosecute with broader biology factors specified arsenic adulterated food, pollution, chronic stress, and toxins. If the displacement from PCOS to PMOS is to beryllium meaningful, it should promote a deeper reconsideration of however chronic women’s wellness conditions are understood, prevented, and cared for successful India.
Taru Jain is elder plan researcher astatine CoRE Stack — a integer nationalist bully for clime alteration resilience successful agrarian India; Preeti Mudliar is DFAT-CAIR-Maitri Fellow astatine the Australia India Institute, University of Melbourne researching integer nationalist infrastructures
