Polycystic Ovary Syndrome gets new designation as Polycystic Ovary Morphology and Symptoms to more accurately capture its multifaceted impact on health.

A global review involving medical experts and patient advocacy groups has led to the official renaming of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, or PMOS, a condition that affects approximately one in eight women worldwide and has a profound impact on various aspects of their health.

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This condition, which affects hormones, metabolism, reproductive health, mental health, skin condition, and weight regulation, has been the focus of a renaming process that included more than 50 patient and professional organisations, including the Endocrine Society.

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The former name, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, had been found to create misconceptions about the condition by focusing primarily on ovarian cysts, despite evidence showing that abnormal cysts are not necessarily present in affected patients, according to experts.

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The renaming process was led by Professor Helena Teede, an endocrinologist from Monash University and Monash Health, who noted that the previous terminology contributed to delayed diagnoses, poor awareness, and inadequate treatment for many women living with the condition.

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Professor Teede stated that the condition's diverse features were often unappreciated and that it was heartbreaking to see the delayed diagnosis, limited awareness, and inadequate care afforded to those affected by this neglected condition.

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Teede also said that 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, and that the findings and details of the renaming process were published in The Lancet after 14 years of international collaboration.

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The initiative gathered over 22,000 survey responses and included workshops with patients and multidisciplinary health experts from different countries, and researchers also published a related paper showing there is no increase in abnormal ovarian cysts associated with the condition.

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A three-year transition process to the new name will include an international awareness campaign targeted at healthcare professionals, governments, researchers, and patients ahead of full implementation in the 2028 international guideline update.

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Professor Teede described the renaming as a landmark moment in women’s healthcare and one of the largest global efforts to rename a medical condition, and said that the agreed principles of the new name included patient benefit, scientific accuracy, ease of communication, avoidance of stigma, cultural appropriateness, and accompanying implementation.

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Teede stated that this change was driven with and for those affected by the condition and that they are proud to have arrived at a new name that finally accurately reflects the complexity of the condition, and that it will lead to desperately needed worldwide advancements in clinical practice and research.

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Professor Terhi Piltonen of Oulu University noted that cultural sensitivity was also considered during the process to avoid terms that may increase stigma in some countries, and that it was essential that the new name was scientifically correct but also considered across diverse cultural contexts.

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Lorna Berry, an Australian woman who has PMOS and played a key role in the renaming process, said that the result will be life-changing, and that it is about accountability and progress, and about ensuring that women receive clarity, understanding, and equitable healthcare from the very beginning.

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Patient advocate and Chair of Verity (PCOS UK), Rachel Morman, said that the new name better reflects the hormonal and metabolic nature of the condition, and that it is fantastic that the new name now leads with hormones and recognizes the metabolic dimension of the condition.

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Morman stated that this shift will reframe the conversation and demand that the condition is taken as seriously as the long-term, complex health condition it is, and that despite decades of tireless advocacy to improve awareness, they recognized that the risk of change would be worth the reward.