PCOS Is Renamed PMOS for 170 Million Women After 14-Year Global Push
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 12
PCOS Is Renamed PMOS for 170 Million Women After 14-Year Global Push
10 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 12
The Lancet published the shift from polycystic ovary syndrome to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, a change announced Tuesday in Prague after 14 years of consultation across six continents.
Experts said the old name misled patients and doctors by implying ovarian cysts are central, even though many patients have none and the condition instead reflects broader hormonal and metabolic dysfunction.
About 85% of women with the condition have insulin resistance, and PMOS is intended to better capture risks extending beyond fertility to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, skin, mental and reproductive health.
Fifty-six medical and patient societies backed the renaming, which advocates said was driven by patients frustrated by delayed diagnosis, fertility-focused care and poor recognition of whole-body symptoms.
The new term will be phased in before the next international management guidelines are updated in 2028, with supporters hoping it improves awareness, diagnosis and treatment for one in eight women.
Patients forced the PCOS name change. Which widespread medical diagnosis could be next to fall?
With new subtypes and genetic links to men, is PMOS truly just a woman's condition?
Beyond a new name, how will PMOS reframe treatment for this newly defined metabolic crisis?
May 2026: PCOS Officially Renamed PMOS—A New Era for Diagnosis, Research, and Patient Support
Overview
On May 12, 2026, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) was officially renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) after more than a decade of debate and research. This change followed a mandate in 2023 for Monash University to gather patient and professional support, leading to surveys and workshops to find the most accurate name. The new term, PMOS, moves beyond focusing only on the ovaries and better reflects the condition’s complex endocrine and metabolic nature. This broader description is expected to improve understanding, diagnosis, and care for those affected.