PCOS has a new name! Learn more about PMOS.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) has confused both doctors and patients for many years because the name focuses narrowly on ovarian changes that are not present in every person with the condition. You can have polycystic ovaries on ultrasound, and not meet the diagnostic criteria for the syndrome. I have personally encountered many patients each year who are unsure if they just have polycystic ovaries or polycystic ovarian syndrome. It usually takes a bit of detective work and reviewing old blood tests to discover which diagnosis they actually have.

PCOS to PMOS

So what’s the new name for PCOS that will hopefully lead to less confusion? PMOS. Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome. This name alludes to the fact that there are metabolic elements, as well as hormonal dysregulation, and it’s not just an ovarian-based condition.

The hope is that the new name of PMOS will help people receive a diagnosis of their condition sooner, allowing for increased support. Given that 170 million people worldwide have PMOS, this is a significant public health issue.

What is PMOS?

Let’s break down the new name further to help give a more thorough understanding of what PMOS entails.

The metabolic factors may include blood sugar dysregulation, obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnoea. Reproductive features may include infertility, irregular menstruation, ovulatory dysfunction, endometrial cancer (from unopposed oestrogen due to ovulatory dysfunction), and pregnancy complications. Psychological components may include depression, anxiety, and disordered eating. Dermatological factors that have an endocrine (hormone) basis may include acne, hirsutism (excess hair growth on the body) or alopecia (hair loss).

As you can see, there are many possible symptoms covering numerous systems in the body. Not all symptoms and signs will be apparent in every person, which is what makes the syndrome complicated from a healthcare perspective. Moving beyond a narrow focus on ovarian appearance allows us to better recognise PMOS as a complex, multifactorial condition affecting multiple body systems.

References

1. Teede H, Khomami M, Morman R et al.
   Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process
   The Lancet, 2026; 0

Congratulations to my lecturer, Dr Michael Costello, for his involvement in the above paper.