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PCOS gets new name in effort to improve diagnosis for millions of women

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Published  May 13, 2026 7:04am PDT
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FILE - Dr. Melanie Cree points to an image of ovaries from an ultrasound that displays indications of polycystic ovary syndrome, a common hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age, at Children's Hospital in Aurora, CO, November 18, 202

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The Brief

    • PCOS, now known as PMOS, is getting a name change to improve diagnosis and care for millions of women.
    • PMOS is a chronic condition of hormonal imbalances that can cause a wide range of symptoms and carries a risk of long-term health effects.
    • WHO says of the women in the world with PMOS, an estimated 70% of them don’t know they have it.

A hormonal condition that affects 1 in 8 women around the world has been renamed in hopes of improving diagnosis and care. 

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is now called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). 

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) new name

Big picture view:

The change was announced this week in a paper published in The Lancet, and comes after 14 years of collaboration between experts and patients. 

  • Old name: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • New name: Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS)

What they're saying:

Researchers and supporters said the previous name was inaccurate and misleading, because it reduced a complex hormonal or endocrine disorder to a misunderstanding about cysts and a focus on ovaries.

"The thought behind that is that one, there’s no cysts in the ovary, so it’s very confusing," Dr. Melanie Cree, one of the authors of the Lancet article and a pediatric endocrinology expert at the University of Colorado Anschutz, told The Associated Press. 

"The hope was that with a more comprehensive and accurate name change, that it would start to enable and push better care."

Why you should care:

The World Health Organization estimates 10-13% of women are affected by the condition, and that up to 70% of women with PMOS worldwide do not know they have this condition. 

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What is PMOS? 

Dig deeper:

The condition is characterized by hormone imbalances that can affect weight, metabolic and mental health, the reproductive system and the skin.

In many cases, those with PMOS have too much insulin in their bodies which makes their ovaries overproduce testosterone, according to the American Medical Association. And the high testosterone can cause various symptoms. 

PMOS symptoms

Symptoms vary, which can make it tough for doctors to diagnose.

But common symptoms include: 

  • Irregular menstrual cycles
  • Heavy or long and/or painful periods
  • Excessive facial and bodily hair growth
  • Hair thinning
  • Acne
  • Follicles on the ovaries (although not abnormal cysts)

It’s also associated with an increased risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

And it is one of the most common causes of female infertility, according to the AMA.

Treating PMOS

Big picture view:

PMOS is a chronic condition and there’s no cure, but lifestyle changes, medications and fertility treatments can reduce symptoms, increase fertility rates and protect longer-term health, WHO says. 

Dig deeper:

The cause of PMOS is unknown, but women with a family history of PMOS or type 2 diabetes are at higher risk.

What's next:

Researchers and doctors are spreading the word about the name change to their peers at meetings and through medical societies and other means. They hope it raises awareness about the reality of the condition and how they can best help patients.

The Source: Information in this article was taken from The Lancet, the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association. Background information was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Detroit.

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