A medical condition affecting over 170 million women worldwide during their reproductive years has received a new name. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) following a rigorous global consensus process involving patients, health professionals, and organizations, as announced by the medical journal The Lancet.
Name Change Addresses Shortcomings
Melanie Cree, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz involved in the renaming effort, stated that the change addresses shortcomings that have led to delayed diagnoses. “Renaming this condition is more than semantics — it’s about finally recognizing the full reality of what patients experience,” Cree explained. “For too long, the narrow definition of PCOS has overlooked its metabolic and hormonal complexity, leaving many patients undiagnosed or misunderstood.”
The former name implied pathological ovarian cysts, but the gynecological disorder actually involves endocrine, metabolic, reproductive, dermatological, and psychological health aspects. The new name emphasizes the role of ovaries without narrowing down to reproductive aspects. “Language matters in medicine,” Cree added. “The previous name often led to misconceptions and stigma, particularly around fertility. This change helps shift the conversation toward overall health rather than a single aspect of the condition.”
Cysts Grow on Outer Edge of Ovary
The condition occurs when small sacs of fluid, known as cysts, grow along the outer edge of the ovary. Inside these fluid-filled cysts are immature eggs called follicles, which are unable to be released. While formerly named for the small cysts, the condition actually involves androgen and insulin disturbances. The authors noted that up to 70% of affected individuals go undiagnosed.
Women Can Experience Many Health Effects
On the metabolic side, women can suffer from obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea. Reproductive health effects include ovulatory disturbances, irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, pregnancy complications, and endometrial cancer. Psychological effects encompass depression, anxiety, poor quality of life, and eating disorders. Additionally, women may experience dermatological effects such as acne, hair loss, and male-pattern hair growth on the face, chest, back, and abdomen.
“PCOS has long been primarily perceived as a gynecological or ovarian disorder; however, mounting research, evidence synthesis, and International Guidelines have shown that PCOS is underpinned by endocrine disturbances in insulin, androgens, and neuroendocrine and ovarian hormones,” wrote the authors of The Lancet paper. The change took more than a decade to occur after the U.S. National Institutes of Health first proposed a new name in 2012.
