Can Mounjaro® Help With PMOS (PCOS)?

Struggling with your weight, cycle or skin on PMOS can feel frustrating, especially when “just lose weight” advice ignores why it might be so hard in the first place. Mounjaro® may help some people with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) manage their weight and insulin levels, but it is not a licensed treatment for PMOS itself in the UK. Weight loss and improvements in insulin sensitivity could directly improve other PMOS symptoms, such as irregular periods.

Here’s what the evidence actually shows about whether Mounjaro® could improve outcomes for PMOS, and how it compares with other licensed PMOS medications.    

What is PMOS (PCOS) and Why Does Insulin Resistance Matter?

Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), is a relatively common hormonal and metabolic condition. It affects around 10 to 13% of reproductive-age women globally, but many are undiagnosed.* 

PMOS can look different from person to person. You may have several of these PMOS symptoms, or only 1 or 2:

• Irregular, infrequent or absent periods

• Acne or oily skin

• Increased facial or body hair

• Thinning hair on the scalp

• Difficulty managing weight

• Difficulty becoming pregnant

There is no single cause of PMOS. Genetics and several interacting hormone changes are thought to play a role. One key factor for many people is insulin resistance: your cells respond less effectively to insulin, so your body may then produce more of it to compensate, which can increase androgen (male hormone) activity and disrupt ovulation.⁺ Around 75% of people with PMOS are insulin resistantⱽ and it is strongly associated with weight gain.ˣ

How Mounjaro® May Help PMOS (PCOS)

Mounjaro® may help manage PMOS by promoting significant weight loss, improving insulin resistance and lowering inflammation. However, Mounjaro® is not a licensed medication for PMOS in the UK. Its active ingredient, tirzepatide, has been approved for weight management and type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro® binds to receptors for 2 gut hormones: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). In doing so, Mounjaro® reduces your appetite, supports weight loss and regulates blood glucose levels.

If you have PMOS and are overweight or obese, losing weight can improve insulin resistance and can even help to regulate your menstrual cycle. Research shows that losing just 5% of your total body weight in PMOS can help to reduce central fat and restore ovulation.* Some people may also notice improvements in androgen-related symptoms over time, such as reduced acne and hair growth. This is one of the reasons why weight loss and lifestyle changes are one of the first treatments recommended for women with PMOS.

Because Mounjaro® can help you lose up to 22.5% of your initial body weight after 72 weeks at the highest dose,** if you have struggled to lose weight in the past despite making lifestyle changes, tirzepatide may be useful. It’s prescribed alongside a calorie-controlled diet and regular exercise plan to help you manage your weight and help you maintain your progress once your treatment ends.  

Mounjaro®, Fertility and Pregnancy with PMOS (PCOS)

If PMOS makes ovulation irregular for you, improving your weight and metabolic health could make ovulation and pregnancy more likely. This is important whether you are trying to conceive or would like to in the future or if you’re actively trying to avoid getting pregnant. 

Although there is no current research exploring the effect of Mounjaro® on fertility in PMOS, obesity and PMOS can make getting pregnant more difficult.* So, Mounjaro® may help you reach a healthy weight before you try to get pregnant and make pregnancy safer and easier in the long run. However, you should speak to your clinician to find out whether Mounjaro® is a suitable option for you.

Importantly, Mounjaro® should not be used during pregnancy: stop taking tirzepatide at least 1 month before you start trying to get pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking it, speak to your GP as soon as possible. 

If you are taking the combined pill or mini-pill, you may need to take some additional precautions on Mounjaro® at the start and if you change dose.  It slows digestion and stomach emptying, which can reduce how well the pill is absorbed. UK guidance** also advises using a barrier method, such as condoms or switching to a non-oral method of contraception for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro® and for 4 weeks after every dose increase to reduce the chance of pregnancy.⁺

Mounjaro®, Weight Loss and PMOS (PCOS)

If you have been diagnosed with PMOS and lifestyle changes alone haven’t helped you lose weight, Mounjaro® could help. Although it isn’t licensed for PMOS, you may be eligible if you meet certain body mass index (BMI) thresholds and its effects are promising. 

A UK observational study followed women prescribed tirzepatide through a digital weight management service. Of 54,114 women, 4,241 reported having PMOS. Among the 40 participants with PMOS who had a weight measurement at 10 months, average weight loss was 19.4%, compared with 18.7% among 397 participants without PMOS who also had a weight measurement at that point. The difference between those groups was not statistically significant. By 10 months, 57.7% of women with PMOS had lost at least 20% of their total body weight, a similar result to that in women without PMOS.*

These results are promising, but few people provided a weight measurement after 10 months of treatment. However, this shows that meaningful weight loss is possible with PMOS and Mounjaro®. 

Dramatic weight loss isn’t always necessary: for some people, losing just 5% of body weight is enough to improve some aspects of their condition, such as cycle regularity or insulin sensitivity. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment approach is right for you.

Is Mounjaro® Licensed for PMOS (PCOS) in the UK?

No. Mounjaro® is not licensed to specifically treat PMOS in the UK. Instead, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved it for weight management and type 2 diabetes in adults who meet the eligibility criteria. For weight loss, Mounjaro® is available if you have a BMI of:

• 30 or more

• 27 to 30 and at least 1 weight-related health condition, such as PMOS, prediabetes, high cholesterol or heart disease

If you have PMOS and meet the eligibility criteria above, you may qualify for Mounjaro® treatment. However, your clinician will also consider your medical history, other medications and pregnancy plans and preferences before prescribing GLP-1 weight loss treatment.

Mounjaro® vs Other PMOS (PCOS) Treatment

Mounjaro® is one potential treatment option for PMOS, particularly for managing weight and insulin resistance, but as it is not an approved treatment, it does not replace the current licensed PMOS medications. 

The correct treatment option for you will also depend on your symptoms. For example, you may be within a normal weight range, but your condition is linked to acne and excessive hair growth or is impacting your fertility, in which case medications like Mounjaro® may not be the most appropriate option for you. 

These treatments are used to address different PMOS symptoms. If pregnancy is your goal, then medication that can stimulate ovulation may be relevant, or if you are managing infrequent periods or unwanted hair growth, a clinician may discuss specific treatments such as the contraceptive pill or spironolactone. Mounjaro® may be offered alongside some of these other PMOS treatments, where appropriate, but it is not a replacement.

Lifestyle changes are often recommended as one of the first treatments for PMOS because following a healthy, balanced diet and getting regular exercise can be effective for managing your weight, supporting your menstrual cycle and improving your confidence and self-esteem, which may be negatively impacted by the condition. 

FAQs

Can I get Mounjaro® on the NHS for PMOS?

No. Mounjaro® is not available on the NHS for PMOS alone because it has not been approved or licensed for the condition. Your GP may discuss Mounjaro® treatment with you if you are overweight or obese and meet the current NHS eligibility criteria. 

How much weight loss is needed to improve PMOS symptoms?

It depends. No single target guarantees symptom improvement. However, research has shown that for some people with PMOS who are overweight, losing just 5% of their starting weight can help restore ovulation, reduce belly fat and improve insulin sensitivity.* Your Hers clinician can help you set realistic weight loss goals as part of your treatment to improve your metabolic health and help manage PMOS.

What's the difference between Mounjaro® and Wegovy® for PMOS (PCOS)?

The main differences are their active ingredients and the receptors they target: Mounjaro® binds to both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, while Wegovy® targets GLP-1 receptors only. Although they are not approved for PMOS, they can address weight issues and insulin resistance, which may help improve PMOS symptoms in some people.

Can Mounjaro® help with PMOS-related hair loss or acne?

Potentially. Mounjaro® may help with hair loss or acne indirectly, but no evidence shows tirzepatide can treat either PMOS symptom. Hormonal changes associated with improved metabolic health could help some people, while skin and hair responses may be slow or absent. Hair shedding can also occur during substantial weight loss. Ask your clinician about the cause and treatment options if either symptom troubles you.