THIRTY PERCENT OF guys will experience balding before age 30. And, as if that doesn’t suck enough, scientists still aren’t sure exactly why. But researchers have recently uncovered one surprising factor: your mother or sister’s metabolic health.
Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), is a whole-body hormone and metabolic disorder primarily diagnosed in women, but there’s the possibility of a male equivalent.
“Studies have found that a series of genes seem to be responsible for causing PMOS in women,” says Gillian Goddard, MD, board-certified endocrinologist and author of The Hormone Loop. “In cis men who inherit these genes, we do see increased male pattern baldness as well as an increased risk for metabolic disease including type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, and insulin resistance.”
A 2025 meta-analysis in Basic and Clinical Andrology found that male first-degree relatives of women with PMOS had modestly higher rates of male-pattern baldness, alongside higher fasting glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure.
Changing PCOS to PMOS comes on the tail end of criticism that the ovaries aren’t the main focus of this condition, citing it as a whole-body syndrome. “Taking ‘ovarian’ out of the name of the disorder may help prevent doctors from getting tunnel vision and excluding the 50 percent of the population that [does] not have ovaries from research related to PMOS,” says Leo F. Doherty, MD, FACOG.
“The concept of a ‘male version’ of PMOS is relatively new and is not an established medical diagnosis,” says Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, PhD, a double board-certified cosmetic and medical dermatologist and hair loss expert in Manhattan.
But if you’re noticing these symptoms in yourself, what’s a man to do? There’s no definitive blood test to diagnose PMOS in women, let alone in men, says Dr. Goddard.
“Men who may be at risk for the male equivalent of PMOS should not rush to ask their doctor for a genetic test,” advises Dr. Doherty. “This does not mean that male relatives of women with PMOS, including brothers, sons, and fathers, should not speak to their doctors about screening for the endocrine and metabolic abnormalities commonly seen in men with the male equivalent of PMOS.”
Sure, men won’t have irregular periods like women with PMOS, but Dr. Doherty suggests that early balding and/or severe acne could be symptoms of your own kind of PMOS.
Nutritional scientist and trichologist Keith Kantor, ND, PhD, says that early balding can be a symptom of a metabolic or endocrine issue. “A receding hairline can be genetic and nothing more, but unusually early or aggressive hair loss can sometimes be the body’s check-engine light,” Kantor says.
So, for now, your best bet may be to treat the symptoms. “I would ask [about] family history and start treatment ASAP with a DHT blocking pill like finasteride (1mg),” says Corey Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Men’s Health advisor. “Second, I’d recommend starting oral minoxidil (2.5 to 5mg) to promote thicker, fuller, longer hair growth. The two work well together. If the patient is more advanced or more motivated, I’d suggest platelet rich plasma or platelet rich fibrin injections.”
While there is no cure for male PMOS, Dr. Hartman suggests little changes that can make living with a metabolic or endocrine disorder a little easier. “Manage insulin resistance, treat the androgenetic alopecia, address acne appropriately and encourage a solid foundation of lifestyle modifications to keep weight, blood pressure and stress as low as possible.”
Taylyn Washington-Harmon is a writer and editor based in Chicago. Her work has appeared in Men’s Health, Health Magazine, and Self.com. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @taylynharmon.
Read the full article here