Hormonal conditions like PCOS should no longer be neglected

Conditions like PCOS, endometriosis and PMS are notoriously hard to study, but recent advances in our understanding and in treatments are proving that is no longer the case.

WHAT do endometriosis, premenstrual syndrome, perimenopause and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have in common? They are all hormonal conditions that affect millions, but are poorly understood and managed due to a chronic lack of research funding.

At first glance, the characteristic they share is that they are problems that affect the female body. But not all female-dominated health conditions are neglected: breast cancer gets more funding than prostate cancer in the UK and US, for instance.

Hormonal conditions are often overlooked because their symptoms are dismissed as minor – a bit of acne, cramping or hot flushes .