PMOS: Global consensus renames polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) following a global consensus process. The name change, detailed in a health policy published in The Lancet, involved 56 academic, clinical, and patient organizations.

Experts state the previous term was inaccurate because it implied pathological ovarian cysts and obscured the condition's diverse endocrine and metabolic features. The new name, PMOS, aims to better reflect the multiple interacting hormonal disturbances and acknowledge metabolic risks such as insulin resistance, obesity, and cardiovascular and diabetes risks.

Estimates suggest that PMOS affects approximately 1 in 8 women of reproductive age worldwide, or more than 170 million people. The World Health Organization estimates the prevalence at 10-13% of reproductive-aged women globally. Experts note that many women living with the condition have not yet received a formal diagnosis.