Tag: PCOS new name PMOS

If you have been diagnosed with PCOS or suspect you have PMOS, you might have seen the news this week. On 12 May 2026, a landmark paper published in The Lancet officially renamed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. It’s one letter different in the acronym. But the reasoning behind it, and what it means for diagnosis, treatment and the millions of people living with this condition, is significant. Here’s everything you need to know. Why has PCOS been renamed? The short answer: because the old name was wrong and that had real consequences. “Polycystic ovary syndrome” implies the condition is defined by cysts on the ovaries. In reality, those are not actually pathological ovarian cysts. What is visible on ultrasound are small antral follicles – immature follicles that haven’t developed properly, not cysts in the clinical sense. Describing the condition by a feature it doesn’t actually have has caused confusion among patients and clinicians alike for decades. More importantly, the old name obscured what PCOS actually is: a complex, whole-body hormonal and metabolic condition that affects far more than the ovaries. The new name recognises that the condition is not  primarily a gynaecological disorder, but instead a complex, multisystem condition involving endocrine, metabolic, reproductive, dermatological and psychological health. The name PCOS is misleading – it focuses on ‘cysts’ and the ovaries, when the condition is much more complex than that. This has led to missed diagnoses and people not getting the right treatment. For an estimated 1 in 8 women worldwide – over 170 million people – that’s not a semantic issue, it’s a healthcare one. What does PMOS stand for and what does it mean? PMOS: Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome Each word in the new name is deliberate: Polyendocrine – reflects that this is fundamentally a hormonal condition, involving multiple endocrine disruptions. People with PMOS have a disturbance in the endocrine (or chemical messenger) system of the body, which can lead to widespread impacts. This includes abnormalities in androgen production, insulin signalling, ovarian hormone regulation and neuroendocrine function. Metabolic – acknowledges the significant metabolic dimension of the condition, including insulin resistance, diabetes risk and cardiovascular risk. For many people with PMOS, the metabolic features are as impactful or more so than the reproductive ones. Ovarian – retained in the new name because the ovaries remain central to understanding the condition. Abnormalities in follicle development and ovulation are all key features of PMOS. The ovary is involved, it’s just not the only thing going on, and it’s not cysts that define it. Syndrome – correctly reflects that this is a cluster of features, not a single-cause disease. How did changing PCOS to PMOS happen? This wasn’t a quick decision. The name change followed more than a decade of vigorous debate and the most robust disease-renaming process in history. The process was led by Professor Helena Teede, Director of Monash University’s Monash Centre for Health Research & Implementation, alongside the International Androgen Excess and PCOS Society, 56 patient and professional organisations including Verity PCOS UK  and garnered more than 22,000 survey responses from patients and multidisciplinary health professionals across all world regions. The revised name was introduced in a paper published in The Lancet and presented at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague. “It is fantastic that the new name now leads with hormones and recognises the metabolic dimension of the condition.” – Rachel Morman, Chair of Verity PCOS UK How is PMOS diagnosed? Nothing about the diagnostic criteria has fundamentally changed. If you were diagnosed with PCOS, that diagnosis still stands. The condition is the same, the name is what’s changing. To receive a PMOS/ PCOS diagnosis, a person must meet at least two of the following three criteria: 1. Irregular or absent menstrual cycles. Irregular cycles indicate that ovulation is not occurring regularly, a key feature of PMOS/ PCOS. According to the 2023 International Evidence-Based PCOS Guidelines, irregular cycles are defined as fewer than eight cycles per year, or cycle intervals outside the 21–35 day range, in women who are at least three years post-menarche (which is your first period). 2. Clinical or biochemical signs of high androgens (hyperandrogenism). This means either physical symptoms associated with elevated androgens such as excess facial or body hair (hirsutism), acne, scalp hair thinning or elevated androgen levels on a blood test – typically testosterone.  3. Polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM). This refers to the appearance of the ovaries on an ultrasound scan, specifically a high number of small antral follicles (the immature follicles that house eggs) in one or both ovaries, or an increased ovarian volume. Alternatively, a high AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) level on a blood test can be used as a marker of PCOM when an ultrasound isn’t available or appropriate. Crucially, “60% of women with the condition only need those first two – they don’t need the ovaries assessed in any way,” says Professor Teede. “For the other 30–40%, they can either have a blood test or an ultrasound, and arguably, a blood test is actually cheaper and much more convenient than an internal ultrasound.” The conversation about your condition should broaden For too long, people with PCOS were told it was “just about your periods” or “just a fertility issue.” The new name makes explicit that PMOS involves the endocrine system, metabolism, skin, mental health and cardiovascular health, not just the ovaries and reproductive function. “Language matters in medicine. 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.” – Dr Melanie Cree What actually causes PMOS and what does it affect? The name change is an opportunity to understand PMOS more completely. It’s not a condition that starts and ends with your cycle. Hormonal disruption (the “polyendocrine” part) PMOS involves elevated androgens like testosterone which can disrupt ovulation, cause acne, trigger unwanted hair growth (hirsutism) and contribute to hair thinning. The androgen […]