A condition long known as polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, has been formally renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS, following a years-long effort by researchers and health professionals seeking a name they say better reflects the full scope of the disorder.

The change was announced in a study published on May 12, 2026, in the medical journal The Lancet. The international team behind the work included Dr. Melanie Cree, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz, who participated in the renaming process that unfolded over roughly a decade.

For many years, doctors largely viewed PCOS as a condition centered on the ovaries. According to the researchers involved in the renaming effort, that understanding contributed to a name that did not fully capture the wide range of systems affected by the disorder. They argue that the terminology may also have played a role in delayed diagnosis and gaps in care for many patients.

The newly adopted name, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, reflects a broader medical understanding of the condition. PMOS affects multiple areas of health, including hormones, metabolism, mental health, the skin and the reproductive system.

Signs and symptoms often emerge during the teenage years and can continue well beyond menopause. Researchers describe PMOS as a complex condition whose effects extend far beyond reproductive health, touching several aspects of a person’s long-term wellbeing.

The condition is common. Researchers estimate that PMOS affects approximately one in eight women worldwide, representing more than 170 million women globally. Even so, a large proportion of those affected may remain unaware they have it. Estimates cited by the research team suggest that around 70% of women living with PMOS have not been diagnosed.

Part of the challenge, according to the information accompanying the renaming announcement, is that the condition’s most significant health impacts are not always immediately associated with the ovaries. Many people with PMOS have higher insulin levels than those without the condition, a factor linked to a range of metabolic complications.

Those complications can include Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, excess liver fat, weight gain and obstructive sleep apnea. Researchers say these risks underscore why a more comprehensive understanding of the condition is important for both diagnosis and ongoing medical care.

The renaming marks more than a change in terminology. For the clinicians and researchers involved, it represents an effort to align the condition’s name with current scientific knowledge and the experiences of millions of people affected by it.