Purpose
Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), previously known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine condition in women of reproductive age estimated to affect 5-20% of women worldwide, and 8% of adolescents. It is the main cause of anovulatory infertility, and can feature symptoms of acne, overweight/obesity, hirsutism (excess hair), hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance and polycystic ovaries. Women with PMOS also report higher levels of anxiety and depression than women without PMOS.
PMOS Support in the Community
We are excited to collaborate on designing and delivering a Women’s Health programme alongside Derby County Community Trust (DCCT), a charitable organisation which delivers women's health programmes to the community.
Our collaborative, psychologically informed programme for women with PMOS launched on 22nd September 2026, but we are still open if you'd like to attend. You can register for more information here, just select ‘Women’s Health’ from the drop-down programme menu.
Research Developments
Our multi-disciplinary research team at the University of Derby are currently undertaking projects which align with:
- understanding the impact of PMOS on psychological health and quality of life
- exploring interventions to improve psychological outcomes
- the experience and perspective of adolescents with PMOS
- exploring suicide ideation, and non-suicidal self-injury in women with PMOS
Get Involved in Research
Our current research project aims to explore and identify blood biomarkers associated with mental health and quality of life in women with PMOS. We are recruiting for women both with, and without PMOS, to participate in this study. If you would like to know more about this, and volunteer to participate, complete our participation form.
Research in the Real-World
Coming Soon
- In March 2027, Dr Williams will be delivering a public talk on PMOS as part of Leicester's International Women's Day celebrations. This event will take place on Sunday 7th March 2027 at Leicester Guild Hall.
- In October 2026, Dr Williams will begin to attend a small group of local schools and colleges to deliver the new mandatory curriculum on women's health including PMOS.
Past Events
- In September 2026, Dr Sophie Williams delivered a public workshop on PMOS Across the Lifespan at University of Derby.
- In September Dr Williams, Professor Sheffield, Dr Fido and Dr Adshead also supported the delivery of two research seminars on behalf of the PMOS Research Network UK and Ireland. The latter seminar, held at the University of Derby, was privileged to welcome Michelle Welsh MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for PMOS to the event.
- In June 2026, Dr Sophie Williams spoke with Michelle Welsh MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for PMOS to explore what more can be done to support improvements in PMOS health care experiences.
- Also in June, Dr Sophie Williams and the research team hosted Catherine Atkinson MP, to highlight our research in women's health, and commitment to supporting women in the community to manage their PMOS. We were also joined by Claire Clark, Physical Activity and Health Officer for Derby County Community Trust to discuss our new PMOS programme launched in September 2026.
- In 2025, Dr Sophie Williams was invited to contribute evidence to an All-Party Parliamentary Group enquiry into PMOS.
- We were also honoured to highlight our research to Michelle Welsh MP, and chair for All-Party Parliamentary Group for PMOS, when Michelle visited the university, toured our facilities and heard first-hand about our commitment to PMOS research and advocating for improvements in women's health.
- In November 2025, Dr Sophie Williams spoke briefly at 'For Ewe', a Women's Health and Wellness event, hosted by Derby County Community Trust (DCCT). DCCT lead Women's Health programmes which are sponsored by the Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations Fund. Visit LinkedIn for more information about the event.
Our Research Team
We are a multidisciplinary research team, featuring biomedicine, physiology, and psychology. You can read more about our team below by clicking the links.
And also, PhD Students:
External Collaborators
We collaborate closely with endocrinologists Professor Harpal Randeva and Dr Ioannis Kyrou (Visiting Professor) from University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust and Research Fellow Dr Chris Kite, University of Wolverhampton. The UHCW NHS Trust have also sponsored two PhD students at the University of Derby contributing £80,000 towards PMOS research.
PMOS Research Network UK and Ireland
The PMOS Research Network UK (PRN UK) was established in 2025, aimed at UK based researchers and professionals working with individuals with PMOS. We meet quarterly online (via Teams) usually on Wednesdays at 9-10am, and we welcome others working in PMOS research from all disciplines. As a network we have recently had an abstract accepted for the 4M (Menarche, Menstruation, Menopause and Mental Health) Consortium Conference. We also were successful in our application to the BPS for funds toward research seminars in PMOS research.
To join and receive meeting invites please contact s.williams3@derby.ac.uk.
Follow the PMOS Research Network UK and Ireland on LinkedIn and Instagram.
The PCOS Quality of Life Scale (PCOSQOL)
Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2018). The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Quality of Life Scale (PCOSQOL): Development and preliminary validation. Health Psychology Open. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102918788195
If you wish to use the PCOSQOL in your research, please contact s.williams3@Derby.ac.uk to request permission and receive the full scale and scoring instructions.
Please note, that if you are using the scale to support with commercially related research there may be a fee for use, or request for anonymised data sharing to be built into any studies.
Open Access Publications
These peer-reviewed research publications are open access which means anyone can read them.
Adshead, C., Sheffield, D., Fido, D., Lagojda, L., Kyrou, I., Randeva, H., Williams, S., & Kite, C. (2026). Psychological interventions for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials. Psychology International, 8(1), https://doi.org/10.3390/psycholint8010015
Williams, S., Fido., D., & Sheffield, D. (2022). Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI): A community-based study. Healthcare, 10(6), 1118. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10061118
Additional links
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