Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) could be renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) under a proposal published in The Lancet and announced at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague. The recommendation, the result of a 14-year global effort involving academics, clinicians, patient organisations and thousands of individuals with lived experience across six continents, is intended to address widespread delays in diagnosis and a fundamental misunderstanding of the condition.
Why the current name is being challenged
Experts argue that the existing term, PCOS, overemphasises the presence of ovarian cysts and places undue focus on the reproductive system, obscuring the condition’s far broader impact on a woman’s health. Contrary to what the name suggests, women with PCOS do not typically have pathological ovarian cysts. Instead, they often possess a large number of “arrested follicles” – eggs that have failed to mature due to hormonal effects. As Professor Helena Teede, director of the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation and an endocrinologist at Monash Health, explained: “What we now know is that there is actually no increase in abnormal cysts on the ovary and the diverse features of the condition were often unappreciated.”
The condition, which affects around one in eight women globally – an estimated 170 million people – is a complex, long-term hormonal or endocrine disorder. In the UK, it is thought to affect about one in 10 women, with some estimates suggesting up to 15% of women of reproductive age, and prevalence is noted to be highest among Asian populations. Despite this, diagnosis is frequently delayed, with some surveys indicating it can take up to 12 years or multiple consultations. This is attributed to a lack of awareness, symptoms being dismissed, and an overemphasis on reproductive issues.
The current name, the consensus statement said, implies “pathological ovarian cysts, obscuring diverse endocrine and metabolic features, and contributing to delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, and stigma, while curtailing research and policy framing.” It also limits understanding of the condition’s full medical reach. PCOS is associated with a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, mental health conditions including depression and anxiety, sleep apnoea, fatty liver disease, endometrial cancer, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. In the UK alone, the estimated age-standardised cost of treating women with the condition in 2019 was £1.22 billion, with large portions attributable to anxiety, depression and type 2 diabetes.
Professor Teede, who has a 30-year career in clinical academia focusing on women’s reproductive and metabolic health, said it was “heart-breaking to see the delayed diagnosis, limited awareness and inadequate care afforded those affected by this neglected condition.” She called the proposed name change “a landmark moment that will lead to desperately-needed worldwide advancements in clinical practice and research.”
Rachel Morman, chair of the UK-based charity Verity (PCOS UK), which has been campaigning for improvements in awareness and care for decades, welcomed the shift. “It is fantastic that the new name now leads with hormones and recognises the metabolic dimension of the condition,” she said. “This shift will reframe the conversation and demand that it is taken as seriously as the long-term, complex health condition it is. Despite decades of tireless advocacy to improve awareness, we recognised that the risk of change would be worth the reward.”
What the new name means
The proposed designation, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), is intended to reflect the condition’s “multi-system pathophysiology”. The consensus statement noted that “accuracy was improved by omitting cysts and by capturing endocrine, metabolic, and ovarian dysfunction.” The condition is no longer diagnosed primarily by the presence of polycystic ovaries; current guidelines rely on at least two of three features: irregular menstrual periods or amenorrhea, clinical or biochemical signs of excessive androgen secretion (such as hirsutism or acne), and polycystic ovaries on ultrasound (which can now be replaced by other markers such as anti-Müllerian hormone levels).
A three-year transition period is in place for full implementation of the new name, with PMOS set to be fully incorporated into the International Guideline update in 2028. International education and awareness campaigns targeting health professionals, governments and researchers will be rolled out during this period.
The proposal also follows extensive engagement with patient groups and individuals with lived experience, whose voices were central to shaping the new nomenclature. Verity has urged people to turn to evidence-based resources rather than the significant amount of misinformation about the condition circulating on social media.
NHS response
An NHS England spokesperson said: “We routinely review and update content on the NHS website to ensure it reflects the latest clinical advice and will carefully consider these recommendations. The NHS will also continue our work to improve women’s healthcare, including for this important group, which involves giving women more choice over their care, bringing down waiting times, and delivering more care in communities.”