PCOS Renamed PMOS in Landmark Shift Reflecting Metabolic and Endocrine Features

A global panel of clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates has formally renamed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), marking a major shift in how the condition is understood and communicated in clinical care. The consensus, published in The Lancet, reflects growing recognition that the disorder extends far beyond ovarian dysfunction and encompasses complex endocrine and metabolic abnormalities that affect fertility, cardiometabolic health, and long-term outcomes.¹

Why Experts Say the Name PCOS No Longer Fits the Condition

The change follows an extensive international consensus process involving more than 14,000 survey responses from patients and health professionals across multiple world regions. Investigators said the term PCOS inaccurately implies the presence of ovarian cysts and fails to capture the multisystem nature of the condition, which affects more than 170 million women worldwide.

According to the authors, the new terminology is intended to improve diagnostic clarity, reduce stigma, strengthen research consistency, and better align treatment strategies with the underlying biology of the disease. “Accuracy was improved by omitting cysts and by capturing endocrine, metabolic, and ovarian dysfunction,” the investigators wrote.

The paper emphasized that PMOS involves interacting disturbances in insulin signaling, androgen production, neuroendocrine pathways, and ovarian function. These abnormalities contribute not only to infertility and menstrual dysfunction, but also to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease risk, mental health conditions, and pregnancy complications.

What the PMOS Name Change Means for Fertility and Patient Care

Mickey Coffler, MD, OB-GYN and fertility specialist at HRC Fertility, said the terminology update may have important implications for infertility treatment and patient understanding.

“Recognizing PMOS as a ‘polyendocrine’ condition acknowledges that infertility is driven by multiple interacting hormonal disturbances, including insulin and neuroendocrine hormones, rather than just an isolated ovarian disorder,” Coffler explained. “This opens doors for treatments that target the underlying metabolic causes, such as managing insulin resistance, to restore spontaneous ovulation and improve pregnancy outcomes, which are often hindered by the interplay of these complex endocrine abnormalities.”

The renaming effort was led by the Global Name Change Consortium and supported by organizations including the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society, Verity, and Monash University. Researchers used a multistep consensus model that included Delphi surveys, nominal group workshops, marketing assessments, and implementation planning.

Survey Results Show Strong Support for Renaming PCOS

Notably, 86% of surveyed patients and 71% of health care professionals supported adopting a new symptom-based and biologically accurate name rather than retaining the PCOS acronym. Participants repeatedly cited frustration that the previous terminology minimized the metabolic and systemic components of the disease and contributed to delayed diagnosis and fragmented care.

The study also highlighted evidence supporting the broader metabolic framing of the condition. Prior research has demonstrated that insulin resistance is present in the majority of patients with PMOS, including many individuals without obesity. Additional studies cited in the paper showed elevated risks of impaired glucose tolerance, gestational diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease among affected patients.²

Investigators ultimately selected “polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome” because it best captured the disorder’s multisystem biology while avoiding terminology perceived as stigmatizing or misleading. Earlier naming options generated concerns about cultural implications, reproductive stigma, or problematic acronyms.

The authors acknowledged several limitations to the consensus process, including lower participation from some low- and middle-income countries and the use of voluntary survey participation, which may introduce selection bias. However, they noted that naming preferences were generally consistent across geographic regions.

Experts Hope PMOS Will Improve Awareness and Earlier Diagnosis

Implementation of the PMOS terminology is already underway and will occur over a planned 3-year transition period. The strategy includes updates to clinical guidelines, electronic health records, educational materials, International Classification of Diseases systems, and future research publications. The updated International Guideline for the condition, currently used in 195 countries, is expected to formally incorporate the new terminology in 2028.

The broader significance of the name change may extend beyond semantics. Experts argue that framing the condition as a multisystem endocrine-metabolic disorder could improve awareness among clinicians, encourage earlier diagnosis, and expand treatment approaches beyond fertility management alone. Future research may also further refine PMOS subtypes and enable more personalized therapeutic strategies based on metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive phenotypes.

Ultimately, the transition from PCOS to PMOS reflects a growing effort in medicine to align disease terminology with evolving scientific understanding. For clinicians and patients alike, the new name may provide a clearer framework for understanding the condition’s complexity and long-term health implications while helping reduce confusion and stigma that have persisted for decades.

References

1. Teede HJ, Bahri Khomami M, Morman R, et al. Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process. Lancet. Published online May 12, 2026. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00717-8.
2. Tay CT, Mousa A, Vyas A, Pattuwage L, Tehrani FR, Teede H. 2023 international evidence-based polycystic ovary syndrome guideline update: insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis on elevated clinical cardiovascular disease in polycystic ovary syndrome. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024;13:e033572. doi:10.1161/JAHA.123.033572.