PMOS > PCOS
Actually Helpful Women’s Health News
What's going on: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) just got a long-overdue rebrand. Following a landmark study published yesterday in The Lancet, experts announced it’ll now be called — drumroll please — polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). It only took 14 years of patient-driven advocacy efforts. The new name better reflects not just the reproductive aspects of the condition, but also the metabolic and heart-related ones, including insulin resistance, diabetes risk, and cardiovascular disease. The term “polycystic” in particular has long contributed to delayed diagnoses and inadequate care, since most patients don’t actually have any ovarian cysts. (Show us a misnomer like that in men’s health. We’ll wait.)
The impact: Roughly one in eight women has PMOS. But for years, doctors largely viewed infertility as the defining symptom (even though many women with PMOS can get pregnant), while overlooking metabolic issues like weight gain, depression, and early type 2 diabetes — all of which could “potentially shorten patients’ lives significantly” if missed. That’s what Melanie Cree, MD, PhD, one of the authors of The Lancet study, told theSkimm. She also said: “Having a name focused on reproductive health was really missing what more than half of women with PMOS experience.” Cree says she hopes the new name is the first of many steps toward better treatment and diagnosis. She also hopes it empowers patients to ask for more than the bare minimum: a cardio-metabolic disease screening every three years.
Related: This State Senator Schooled Her Male Colleague on Women’s Health (TikTok)
The News in 5
🗞️ Pour out a glass of whole milk. Marty Makary’s time as the head of the FDA has come to an end.
🗞️ Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) is facing calls to resign after she agreed with a radio host's racist remarks about House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
🗞️ The Trump administration launched Moms.gov, a website for those “who face difficult or unexpected pregnancies.” Info about abortion care? Not found.
🗞️ EBay rejected a $56 billion takeover bid from GameStop with the ultimate diss. Saving this for those unsolicited DMs.
🗞️ President Trump wants to give ICE a new boss... and a new name. Ah, rebranding: America’s favorite pastime.
Gassed Up
About That Federal Gas Tax…
What’s going on: President Donald Trump is more unpopular than ever — and he has gas prices to thank. These days, a gallon starts at $4.50 on average, up about 44% from a year ago. The Donald’s plan? Lifting a federal fuel tax that adds 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel. If the tax is paused for five months as lawmakers proposed, that would mean losing about $17 billion in revenue that normally goes towards repairing roads and public transport. Strap in for a bumpy ride.
Could it happen?: Pausing the gas tax would require Congressional approval. The last time that happened was nearly a century ago. Both Democrats and Republicans support the idea, but even if approved, it’s unclear how the savings will be passed on to the rest of us at the pump. These taxes are tacked on at refinery or import centers, not at gas stations.
And if I don’t have a car?: This will still impact your wallet. New numbers out yesterday show that the Consumer Price Index (which measures inflation) spiked 3.8% in April from a year ago due in large part to rising gas prices. Since fuel literally makes the world go round, you can expect prices to keep climbing across the board — especially in the grocery aisle.
Related: Done With Gas? So Are These New EV Owners (USA Today)
Tech
Are Girlbosses AI-ing Too Close to The Sun?
What’s going on: This week, Demi Moore urged her film-industry peers to work with AI, making her the latest in a series of famous women — including Reese Witherspoon, Mel Robbins, Sheryl Sandberg, Natasha Lyonne, and Kerry Washington — to tout the technology. Many of them put a female empowerment spin on it, with Sandberg leaning in to address the “AI gender gap,” and Witherspoon telling women, “We don’t want to get left behind.” The Cut calls this “the girlbossification of AI,” defined as “famous women try[ing] to convince other women that adopting the technology isn’t just the best thing they can do for their careers — it’s the only way to survive.”
What’s the catch?: Depends who you ask. Celebrities and CEOs say AI can help women get ahead at work and in their personal lives. To them, the benefits seem so obvious that they appear genuinely surprised by the backlash — just watch that viral video of a female executive who was loudly booed after calling AI “the next Industrial Revolution.” But critics are plentiful; they cite its environmental impact, its flattening of creativity, and its effect on the labor market. (Many also remember the era of stars hawking NFTs.) Some argue that the very reason celebrities like Witherspoon urge women to adopt AI — because women’s jobs face a higher risk of automation — is exactly why they resist it. As one commenter put it on Witherspoon’s Instagram, “I think it’s okay not to keep up with men on everything.”
Related: Hackers Are Using AI Now (The New York Times Gift Link)
Together with Northwestern Mutual
Ask An Expert
What can I do if my finances are taking a toll on my mental health?
Alanna Akre: If your finances feel overwhelming sometimes (or all the time), you’re not alone. Financial stress is one of the biggest drivers of decreased mental well-being — affecting 52% of Gen Zers and 63% of Millennials.† That’s where a financial professional can make a meaningful difference. They help reduce uncertainty by building a clear, personalized plan tailored to your goals. And it shows: only 42% of people with an advisor say financial stress affects their mental well-being, compared to 58% of those without one. What are you waiting for? Now is the right time to create a plan to help take some of that pressure off.
Quick Hits
🧺 Turns out, load size matters. And, your washer might be judging you for this one.
🚘 AI might be the key to solving this common travel problem. Now we just need someone to fix it.
🧑🔬 Scientists say the next big protein hack could already be growing in your garden. It really is more than a pretty garnish.
🎥 We finally got an update on this long-awaited sequel to a millennial cult classic. Now, can we put the release date on a Post-it?
🖤 This season’s hottest trend is a (slightly spooky) mini-me. Hello, dollface.
🇫🇷 Demi Moore is the unofficial queen of Cannes with this look. Toujours très chic.
We Needed This
On Our Calendar
Things to jot down today…
🗓️ The Trump-Xi summit begins in Beijing — trade, Taiwan, AI, and Iran are all on the agenda.
🗓️ It’s National Apple Pie Day. The real debate: Martha Stewart’s recipe or Ina Garten’s?
🗓️ It’s World Cocktail Day — a good excuse to finally learn one classic recipe.
Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.
Good for You Awards 2026
Welcome to our third annual Good for You Awards. Over the past several months, our editors have consulted with experts and tested hundreds of wellness products across six categories. Now we’ve chosen the winners that actually made a difference in how we feel. Start with:
Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Marisa Iallonardo, Molly Longman, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Erika W. Smith, Kate Preziosi, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Barbara Kean.
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