PCOS is now PMOS, but should the word 'ovarian' still stay in the name?

PCOS has been renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). The change puts focus on the condition's hormonal and metabolic roots but is the term 'ovaria' even needed in the new definition? Doctors debate.

In Short

• Many patients do not show ovarian cysts despite having the condition
• Doctors say the disorder affects hormones, insulin, fertility, skin and weight
• So-called cysts are often immature follicles that did not release eggs

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, aka PCOS, has a new name now. The condition which affects over 170 million women worldwide has been misunderstood and under-diagnosed for years.

The condition consists of symptoms like irregular periods, sudden weight gain, acne, excess facial hair, sometimes cyst in the ovaries and difficulty getting pregnant.

The new name Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), following an international effort led by Monash University and published in The Lancet, aims to focus on the condition’s deeper hormonal and metabolic roots rather than focusing only on the ovaries.

Polyendocrine means it affects multiple hormones in the body.

Metabolic refers to problems linked to weight, insulin, blood sugar, and heart health.

Ovarian refers to its impact on reproductive health and ovulation.

Syndrome means a group of symptoms occurring together.

But even as doctors welcome the broader name, a new debate has started: should the word “ovarian” remain at all?

WHY THE OLD NAME WAS CONSIDERED MISLEADING

Doctors say the term "polycystic ovary syndrome" created confusion because many women with the condition do not actually have ovarian cysts, in fact only 20% of women have been detected to have cysts.

Dr. Prachi Sareen Sethi, Senior Gynecologist at Motherhood Hospital, said only a small percentage of women with PCOS show the classic “polycystic ovaries” on ultrasound scans.

“The condition is much more than the ovaries,” she explained. “It affects insulin regulation, hormones, ovulation, skin health, fertility, and weight management. Some women may not even show cysts on ultrasound but still have the syndrome.”

She added that the so-called “cysts” are often immature follicles that did not release eggs, rather than true cysts.

A DISORDER THAT AFFECTS THE WHOLE BODY

PCOS (now PMOS) is increasingly being recognised as a metabolic and endocrine disorder rather than only a reproductive one.

Dr. Bandana Sodhi, Director Gynecologist and Obstetrician at Fortis La Femme, said the name PCOS failed to capture the full picture.

According to her, insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, obesity, infertility, acne, and long-term risks like diabetes and heart disease can sometimes be more significant than the ovarian changes themselves.

WHY SOME DOCTORS STILL WANT 'OVARIAN' IN THE NAME

Not all doctors agree that the word should disappear completely.

Dr. Dipali Patil, Consultant Gynecologist at NewEra Hospital, believes ovaries still remain central to the condition because fertility and menstrual health are closely linked to ovarian function.

Dr. Himani Gupta, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Medicover Hospitals, also supported retaining the term. She said ovaries are involved in nearly all cases, even if hormone tests appear normal.

“The new name helps patients understand that the problem goes beyond ovaries alone. But removing ‘ovarian’ completely may overlook an important part of the disease process," she said.

However, Dr. Sodhi said that there may be a future in which the term ovaries is removed and it does reflect a more endocrine-metabolic nature of the disorder.

"While reproductive dysfunction and ovulation problems remain the prominent features in many patients, so the ovaries are still clinically relevant, the important fact is that the terminology should correctly represent the condition and improve awareness, diagnosis, and long-term care for women," she said.

Dr. Sethi added that the some women may also show polycystic ovarian morphology on scans without having any other symptoms of PCOS. "So, the presence or absence of ovarian cysts alone is not always the defining factor for this metabolic and endocrine disorder," she said.

For now, experts agree on one thing: the name change is meant to improve awareness and help women get earlier diagnosis and better long-term care.

Whether we need to remove the word 'ovarian' from PMOS is now yet to be seen.

- Ends