Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome

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.

It had been under debate for decades. Patient perspectives played a central role, with hundreds of women sharing experiences of confusion, misdiagnosis and loneliness under the old terminology. Maddy Mavrikis from Sydney was diagnosed at age 15 and told she would probably never have children, a prediction she later learned was incorrect.

She had irregular periods, high androgens, acne, excessive hair growth and insulin resistance but no ovarian cysts on ultrasound. Her mother questioned the name at the time, noting the condition appeared more hormonal than ovarian. The shift is expected to promote earlier diagnosis and more holistic care.

Doctors can now tailor treatment based on a patient's life stage and specific symptoms, whether menstrual, fertility-related, metabolic or mental health concerns. Long-term impacts such as risks for high blood pressure and diabetes will receive greater focus.

Saleh said the new framework will move beyond treating isolated symptoms. "Instead of zeroing in on the ovaries being a problem, we're looking at it as a whole endocrinology metabolic syndrome," she explained. These imbalances affect metabolism, reproduction, skin, mental health and cardiovascular systems.

The term removes the misleading emphasis on cysts that do not always appear and are not true ovarian cysts requiring surgery.

Women often learn of their diagnosis in their 20s or 30s while seeking fertility treatment. Under the updated name, care can address the full spectrum of symptoms rather than defaulting to a reproductive focus. Experts hope this will reduce the years many patients spend without proper diagnosis or treatment for metabolic and long-term health risks.

“For years, this complex, long-term hormonal and metabolic disorder has been reduced to a gynecological disease that was thought to just affect people who had cysts on their ovaries.”

The announcement coincides with separate health developments reported Tuesday, including Supreme Court action extending a deadline on mifepristone access and new FDA policy on e-cigarettes. No direct connection exists between these stories.