A hormonal condition long known as polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, will now be known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, abbreviated as PMOS, following an international effort involving researchers, clinicians and patients who argued that the existing name no longer reflected the full scope of the disorder.
The change comes after years of discussion within the medical community and among patient advocacy groups over whether the term PCOS accurately described a condition that affects multiple hormonal and metabolic systems beyond the ovaries.
Dr. Helena Teede, an endocrinologist and professor of women’s health at Monash University in Australia, said concerns about the name had been raised repeatedly by both healthcare professionals and people living with the condition.
“It was very clear that the name was inaccurate,” Teede said.
Teede chaired the steering group that led the renaming initiative and serves as director of the Monash Centre for Health Research & Implementation. She said the debate over terminology reflected broader concerns about how the condition is understood and communicated in both clinical and public settings.
PCOS affects roughly one in eight women. Despite being one of the most common hormonal conditions affecting women, specialists involved in the review said many patients believed the name contributed to confusion about symptoms, diagnosis and potential long-term health effects.
The decision to adopt PMOS followed what organizers described as a large international consultation process. Thousands of people diagnosed with the condition participated in surveys, alongside thousands of healthcare professionals from different medical specialties and regions.
According to Teede, the review was designed to gather input from a broad range of stakeholders rather than relying solely on a limited group of experts. Fifty-six academic, clinical and patient organizations were involved in funding and overseeing the initiative.
“It was a really robust process, and the community was involved at all stages,” she told Live Science. “We hope that people will understand and respect the process — understand that it wasn’t made behind closed doors with a few small expert groups, which is what normally happens.”
Supporters of the new terminology say PMOS more accurately reflects the complex nature of the disorder by acknowledging its hormonal, metabolic and ovarian components. They argue that the previous name focused too narrowly on ovarian characteristics while overlooking other important aspects of the condition.
The transition to the new terminology is expected to occur gradually. Organizers said the next three years will be devoted to raising awareness among healthcare providers, researchers and patients while encouraging wider adoption of PMOS in medical practice and public health communication.
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For those involved in the renaming effort, the change represents an attempt to align the language used to describe the condition with current clinical understanding. As healthcare organizations and professionals begin adapting to the updated terminology, the shift marks a notable development in how one of the most common hormonal conditions affecting women is discussed and understood today.
