PCOS renamed PMOS: Why this common hormone disorder got a new name

PCOS has been renamed PMOS as the change better reflects the condition's hormonal and metabolic impact and not just a 'cyst in the ovaries' problem.

In Short

• The old term PCOS wrongly implied ovarian cysts were central to diagnosis
• The condition affects hormones, metabolism, fertility, mood and skin
• International medical guidelines are expected to fully adopt the term by 2028

For years, millions of women with PCOS were told their symptoms were “normal,” dismissed as weight gain, stress, acne, or irregular periods. Many struggled for years before getting a proper diagnosis.

Now, one of the world’s most misunderstood women’s health conditions is getting a new name in an effort to improve awareness and treatment worldwide.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) will now be known as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), following a global effort led by Monash University and published in The Lancet.

The condition affects around 1 in 8 women globally, more than 170 million people.

WHY WAS THE NAME CHANGED?

Doctors and researchers say the old name, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), created confusion because it made people think the condition was mainly about cysts in the ovaries.

In simple terms, “polycystic ovaries” suggests that women with the condition have multiple ovarian cysts.

But that's not always true. Many women diagnosed with PCOS do not actually have abnormal cysts on their ovaries.

The name also failed to explain that the condition affects the body far beyond the ovaries. PCOS is actually a complex hormonal and metabolic disorder that can impact periods, fertility, weight, skin, mental health, blood sugar, and even heart health.

“For too long, the name reduced a complex, long-term hormonal or endocrine disorder to a misunderstanding about ‘cysts’ and a focus on ovaries,” Professor Helena Teede, Director of the Monash Centre for Health Research & Implementation and an endocrinologist at Monash Health, said.

Because of this misunderstanding, many women were either diagnosed late or did not receive proper treatment for the full range of symptoms they experienced.

WHAT DOES PMOS MEAN?

The new name aims to explain the condition more clearly.

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.

In simple terms, PMOS is a hormonal and metabolic condition that can affect periods, fertility, skin, mood, weight, and long-term health.

Women with the condition may experience:

• Irregular periods
• Acne
• Excess facial hair
• Weight gain
• Difficulty getting pregnant
• Anxiety or depression

Higher risk of diabetes and heart disease

WHY THIS MATTERS

Doctors say PMOS is not just a “women’s period problem.” It is a full-body health condition that can affect relationships, fertility, mental health, and quality of life.

Experts also hope the new name will reduce stigma and make conversations easier across cultures.

The renaming process took 14 years and involved researchers, doctors, and patients from around the world, including more than 22,000 survey responses.

“This shift will reframe the conversation and demand that it is taken as seriously as the long-term, complex health condition it is,” said Rachel Morman, Chair of Verity (PCOS UK).

The new name will gradually be introduced globally over the next three years, with full implementation expected in international medical guidelines by 2028.

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