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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome
Medical experts have renamed polycystic ovary syndrome to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome after more than a decade of global consultation involving 50 organizations. The change, published in The Lancet, aims to better reflect the condition's hormonal, metabolic and multi-system effects rather than focus on ovarian cysts.
May 12, 10:30 AM·3m read5 sources
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New York PostAudio version
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Medical organizations have renamed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The updated term was published Monday in The Lancet and announced at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague. It follows 14 years of international collaboration across six continents that included patient groups and academic societies.
The previous name had contributed to confusion and delayed diagnoses because the term "polycystic" suggested the condition was primarily a gynecological disorder centered on ovarian cysts. In reality, what appear as cysts on ultrasound are often arrested follicles, or immature eggs resulting from hormonal imbalances.
Many patients receive a diagnosis without any visible ovarian cysts. Up to 70 percent of women with the condition remain undiagnosed despite its prevalence. The disorder affects one in eight women and is a leading cause of infertility. It is linked to high androgen levels, insulin resistance, irregular periods, acne, excessive hair growth, weight struggles, diabetes risk and cardiovascular issues.
Dr. Iman Saleh, an OB/GYN and director of obesity medicine at South Shore University Hospital, said the old name had reduced the complex hormonal and metabolic disorder to a gynecological issue. "If you didn't have a cyst or the ovary was not enlarged, people had a misdiagnosis or spent years not getting diagnosed," she told The Post.
The new name directs attention to endocrine and metabolic dysfunction across multiple body systems. Prof Helena Teede, the endocrinologist who spearheaded the renaming effort as director of Melbourne's Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, said the term PCOS did not capture the multi-system burden.
She announced the change Tuesday in Prague, noting it moves away from an incorrect focus on cysts to recognizing a much broader condition. The effects are virtually all endocrine, or hormonal. The renaming was driven by a global survey and backed by 50 academic, clinical and patient organizations.
