Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) after more than a decade of global consultation, it was announced at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague. The change, published in the Lancet, aims to better reflect the condition's complex nature and end confusion caused by the old name.
Experts led by endocrinologist Professor Helena Teede argued that the term ''polycystic'' was misleading, directing attention solely to the ovaries when the condition involves multiple systems. ''The term PCOS didn't capture the multi-system burden that people with this condition have suffered,'' Teede explained. The new name PMOS highlights the hormonal and metabolic aspects, including risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The renaming was driven by patient advocacy, with many women reporting that the name contributed to delayed diagnosis and inadequate care. Maddy Mavrikis, diagnosed at 15, said she never had ovarian cysts but was told she would likely never have children. ''I never had – and still don't have – cysts on my ovaries, so never really understood why I was diagnosed with 'polycystic ovaries','' she said. The condition often involves insulin resistance and elevated androgens, not cysts.
First named in 1935, PCOS was initially viewed as an ovarian disease. Research has since shown it is a hormonal disorder affecting metabolism, skin, mental health, and reproduction. The old name perpetuated the misperception that it was primarily gynaecological. Professor Teede stated that the new name ''moves away from the incorrect focus on cysts'' and recognises a broader condition affecting virtually all endocrine functions.
