Researchers have officially replaced the long-standing medical term polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with a new designation known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) following years of international scientific review and patient engagement.
The update was published in The Lancet on last Tuesday after a 14-year collaborative process involving clinicians, researchers, and patients across multiple regions of the world.
The reclassification followed extensive consultations that included global surveys involving 14,360 individuals living with the condition as well as multidisciplinary healthcare professionals from different continents.
Experts also applied structured consensus methods such as modified Delphi techniques, nominal group workshops, and implementation studies to arrive at the new terminology.
PMOS is a common hormonal disorder affecting an estimated 10 to 13 per cent of women during their reproductive years and may persist into later stages of life.
According to the World Health Organisation, as many as 70 per cent of women living with the condition globally remain undiagnosed.
The disorder occurs when abnormal hormonal signalling leads to elevated androgen levels and broader endocrine imbalance within the body.
Clinically, affected individuals may experience irregular or infrequent menstrual cycles, ovulation difficulties, pelvic pain, and heavy menstrual bleeding.
Other symptoms include acne, oily skin, excessive facial or body hair, thinning scalp hair, and changes linked to ovarian function.
The condition is also recognised as one of the leading causes of anovulation and infertility among women worldwide.
Long-term health risks associated with PMOS include gestational diabetes, hypertension during pregnancy, weight gain particularly around the abdominal area, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Medical findings also associate the disorder with elevated risks of high blood pressure, cholesterol abnormalities, and endometrial cancer in later life.
Researchers noted that the physical symptoms are often accompanied by emotional and psychological effects that significantly impact quality of life.
The decision to rename the condition was driven by concerns that the previous term PCOS was scientifically misleading and too narrowly focused on ovarian cysts.
Experts argued that the old terminology failed to properly reflect the wider hormonal, metabolic, and systemic nature of the disorder.
They also observed that the previous name contributed to delayed diagnosis, fragmented treatment approaches, and persistent stigma among patients.
The new designation, PMOS, was introduced to better represent endocrine, metabolic, and ovarian dysfunction as interconnected aspects of the condition.
According to researchers, the updated term highlights the role of insulin resistance, obesity, and diabetes risk in the progression of the disorder.
It also reflects the impact of the condition on fertility, menstruation, and broader reproductive health outcomes.
Lead researcher, Helena Teede of the Monash Centre for Health Research, explained that evidence from global studies showed that ovarian cysts are not consistently present in all cases.
She noted that earlier diagnostic framing contributed to incomplete understanding and inadequate care for many patients worldwide.
“It was heart-breaking to see the delayed diagnosis, limited awareness and inadequate care afforded those affected by this neglected condition,” she said.
She further added that improved global guidelines had already advanced awareness, but said renaming the condition was a necessary next step for further progress.
“While international guidelines have advanced awareness and care, a name change was the next critical step towards recognition and improvement in the long-term impacts of this condition,” she said.
Researchers involved in the review said the transition from PCOS to PMOS will be implemented over a three-year period.
The rollout will be supported by coordinated global strategies aimed at improving clinical understanding, diagnosis, and patient management across healthcare systems.
