Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been officially renamed to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) following more than a decade of global consultation. The change, published in the Lancet and announced at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague, aims to better reflect the condition's complex nature and reduce patient confusion.
Experts led by Professor Helena Teede of Monash University said the old name misdirected attention to the ovaries, delaying diagnosis and adequate care. The term 'polycystic' was also misleading, as what appear to be cysts on ultrasound are actually arrested eggs, and many patients – like Maddy Mavrikis – never develop them.
PMOS captures the multi-system burden of the hormonal disorder, which affects one in eight women worldwide. It impacts not only reproduction but also metabolism, increasing risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The condition affects insulin and androgen regulation, with most patients also having insulin resistance.
Mavrikis, diagnosed at 15, was told she would probably never have children. She experienced acne, excessive hair growth, and irregular periods, but never cysts. Her mother questioned the name, noting the condition was hormonal. Teede said patient communities were passionate about the change, knowing how much they had suffered because of the name.
Calls for renaming dated to 1995, and a 2012 US National Institutes of Health forum recommended it. This week's change followed 14 years of collaboration between international societies and patient groups across six continents.
