There comes a time in many women’s lives where they ask themselves, “Is this perimenopause? Or is it my thyroid? Or maybe both?”

After more than a decade of debate and input from over 22,000 patients and providers and an international panel of clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates, “polycystic ovary syndrome” is officially polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS.

Years ago, ferritin, which is our iron storage protein, was explained to me by a functional medicine doctor like this: Iron is the merchandise in the front of the store. Ferritin is what’s in the back storage room. Unfortunately, most doctors only check what’s on the shelves.