Metabolic Health & PMOS

Your weight, your energy, your cycles, your skin, your mood-they are not separate problems. They are connected. At Lamorinda Women’s Health in Lafayette, California, Dr. Karine Hajyan, DO, FACOG takes a comprehensive, integrative approach to metabolic health and PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome)-formely known as PCOS. Dr. Hajyan identifies the root causes of hormonal and metabolic dysfunction and treating the whole woman, not just individual symptoms. Every visit is directly with Dr. Hajyan, in a boutique, unhurried setting where your concerns are always heard and your care is always personalized. 

What is metabolic health, and why is it important?

Metabolism is the process by which a body converts food into energy. It’s a complex system that relies heavily on hormones. Metabolic health refers to how well your body processes and regulates energy, including blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol, body composition, and hormonal balance. When metabolic health is compromised, the effects ripple throughout the entire body, affecting your weight, your energy, your cycles, your fertility, your skin, your mood, and your long-term risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions. 

Many women are told their labs are "normal" when in fact they are metabolically struggling with insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, or early metabolic dysfunction that standard testing misses. At Lamorinda Women's Health, we dig deeper.  

What is PMOS?

PMOS-Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome is the newly recognized and more accurate name for what has traditonally been called PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). This updated terminology better reflects the true complexity of this condition, which is not simply an ovarian disorder, but a multisystem hormonal and metabolic syndrome affecting the entire body. 

PMOS affects an estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age and is one of the leading causes of : 

• Irregular or absent menstrual cycles
• Ovulatory infertility 
• Insulin resistance and weight gain
• Androgen excess: acne, unwanted hair growth, hair thinning
• Metabolic dysfunction and increased risk of type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular risk factors

Despite how common it is, many women go years without a proper diagnosis or receive a diagnosis without a truly comprehensive treatment plan. At Lamorinda Women's Health, that changes. 

What are the Symptoms of PMOS?

PMOS is a multisystem condition and symptoms vary widely from woman to woman. You may have PMOS even if your periods are regular, even if you are not overweight, and even if your previous labs were called normal. 

Reproductive and Menstrual Symptoms

• Irregular, infrequent, or absent menstrual periods
• Heavy or unpredictable bleeding
• Difficulty conceiving or infertility 
• Recurrent pregnancy loss

Hormonal & Metabolic Symptoms

• Weight gain-particularly around the abdomen
• Insulin resistance or pre-diabetes
• Fatigue and low energy
• Sugar cravings and difficulty losing weight despite diet and exercise
• Elevated blood sugar, insulin, or cholesterol 

Androgen Excess Symptoms

• Acne-particularly along the jawline, chin, and back
• Unwanted facial or body hair (hirsutism)
• Hair thinning or loss on the scalp
• Oily skin

Mood & Cognitive Symptoms

• Anxiety or depression
• Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
• Mood swings or irritability 

Not all women with PMOS have all symptoms. Some have regular periods but significant metabolic or androgen excess. Others have irregular cycles but minimal other findings. This is exactly why a thorough, individualized evaluation is essential, and why PMOS is so frequently missed. 

How does Dr. Hajyan diagnose PMOS and Metabloic Dysfunction? 

At Lamorinda Women's Health, diagnosis begins witha thorough conversation about your symptoms, menstrual history, family history, metabolic health, lifestyle, and goals. Dr. Hajyan then builds a comprehensive diagnostic picture using: 

• Advanced Hormonal Lab Testing
• Metabloic & Insulin Resistance Panel
• Imaging & Body Composition 

How does Dr. Hajyan treat PMOS & Metablic Dysfunction?

Treatment at Lamorinda Women's Health is never one-size-all. Every plan is build around your specific lab results, symptoms, goals, and life whether you are trying to conceive, managming metabolic health, addressing skin and hair concerns, or simply trying to feel like yourself again. 

• Lefestyle & Nutrition Counseling
• Metformin & Insulin Sensitizers
• GLP-1 Receptor Agoinist Therapy 
• Weight Management
• Hormonal Therapy
• Ovulation Induction
• Skin, Hair & Aesthetic Care

Ongoing Monitoring & Follow up

PMOS is a lifelong condition that requires ongoing managment. Dr. Hajyan provides regular follow-up to track lab values, assess treatment response, adjust protocols, and support your long term hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive health because PMOS managment is not a one-time conversation. It is an ongoing relationship between you and your physician. 

PMOS & Fertility

PMOS is one of the leading causes of ovulatory infertility but it is also one of the most treatable. With the right evaluation, hormonal optimization, metabolic support, and ovulation induction when needed, amny women with PMOS are able to conceive. 

At Lamorinda Women's Health, fertility care for patients with PMOS is fully integrated into your overall PMOS managment plan not reated as a separate concern. For patients who require advanced reproductive treatemtn such as IVF, Dr. Hajyan provides warm referrals to trusted reproductive endocrinology specialists throughout the Bay Area, with full coordination of care. Please also see our dedicated Infertility & Reproductive Health service page. 

How do I know what my metabolic health needs are?

Many people believe that if they are not overweight, they don’t need to worry about their metabolic health. The reality is, an individual can maintain a perfect weight and still have metabolic issues. 

The best way to gain a deeper understanding of metabolic health is to work with a skilled medical professional experienced in metabolic assessment and treatment. 

Screening for metabolic problems begins with blood testing. Your practitioner orders customized labs to check numerous health markers, including thyroid hormones, lipids, fasting insulin, vitamin D, and various hormones. Those results shape your treatment or health maintenance plan. 

What role does weight management play in metabolic health?

While not everyone with metabolic health issues is also overweight, the majority are. If you’re carrying more than a few extra pounds, reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most impactful things you can do for your metabolic and overall health. 

Lamorinda Women’s Health offers personalized weight management services that help patients not only lose weight but also maintain those results over the course of a lifetime. Nutritional counseling is the foundation of weight loss, and healthy movement is essential. 

Patients can also benefit from learning techniques to enhance sleep quality and manage stress more effectively. Learning how to perform an environmental detox is also beneficial. 

Why Choose Lamorinda Women's Health for Metabloic Health & PMOS Care?

Most women with PMOS have had the experiance of being told their labs are "normal," their sympotms are "Just stress," or that birth control is the only option. At Lamorinda Women's Health, we do things differently. 

Dr. Hajyan takes the time to truly investigate your hormonal and metabolic picture, using a comprehensive panel that includes free testosterone, SHBG, insuluin resistance markers, adrenal androgens, and body composition analysis to understand not just whether you have PMOS, but why your hormones are out of balance and what to do about it. 

Every visit is directly with Dr. Hajyan. Every treatment is built around you. And every follow up is an opportunity to refine, adjust, and optimize because managing your metabolic health and PMOS is not a one-time conversation. It is an ongoing partnership. 

Ready to Get Answers?

If you have been struggling with irregular periods, weight gain, hair loss, acne, fatigue, infertility, or any of the symptoms above, and you suspect PMOS or metabloic dysfunction may be involved. We invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hajyan. 

970 Dewing Ave, Suite 301. Lafayette, CA 94549

(925) 385-7023

Lamorindawomenshealth.com

Because you deserve a diagnosis that explains what is actually happening, and a treatment plan that actually works.