One of the world’s most commonly diagnosed hormonal disorders affecting women has officially been renamed after years of debate among global medical experts.
The condition previously known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) will now be called Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), following an international consensus led by Monash University.
Experts behind the move say the earlier name oversimplified a complex disorder by focusing only on ovarian “cysts”, despite the condition affecting multiple hormonal and metabolic systems across the body.
The change, published in The Lancet, follows a 14-year global consultation involving doctors, researchers, patient groups and women living with the condition.
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Why experts say the term PCOS was misleading
For years, the name PCOS implied that the condition was mainly associated with ovarian cysts. Today, scientists have made a clarification about this misunderstanding of the condition.
Experts have established that patients of the disorder do not usually have ovarian cysts but rather immature “arrested” follicles that do not reach the stage of ovulation.
Follicles typically show up as cysts on ultrasounds, accounting for the naming of the condition decades ago.
The new term "Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome" has been developed to capture the full scope of consequences of the disease, such as hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, metabolic disorders, etc.
A condition affecting millions globally
The disorder affects an estimated one in eight women globally, impacting more than 170 million women worldwide.
Symptoms can include:
Irregular or absent menstrual cycles
Difficulty conceiving
Acne and excessive facial hair growth
Weight gain and insulin resistance
Anxiety and depression
Increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Health experts say the condition often goes undiagnosed for years because symptoms vary widely between patients.
Why the name change matters beyond medicine
The health experts are confident that the new term will ultimately help increase awareness about the condition, leading to an early detection and diagnosis.
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It has also been observed that care has been taken not to add any social stigma to the fertility or reproduction issue in some cultures through the new phrase. It will ultimately become a part of health policy, academic publications, and general communications regarding healthcare.
Even though the term PCOS will still continue to be common for a long time, the doctors say that moving towards PMOS means a lot to understand the issue better.
