Polycystic ovary syndrome has been officially renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, a change driven by over 50 organisations to enhance awareness and improve healthcare outcomes for millions of women worldwide.
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A major health condition affecting more than 170 million women worldwide has officially been renamed following a global effort led by Monash University, in Melbourne, Australia.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) will now be known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), reflecting growing evidence that the condition extends far beyond ovarian cysts and it affects multiple systems in the body.
The change, published in The Lancet, follows 14 years of international collaboration involving patients, researchers, and 56 medical and advocacy organisations.
The transition to the new name will take place over three years, with PMOS expected to be formally adopted in the 2028 international guideline update.
Professor Helena Teede, director of the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, and endocrinologist at Monash Health, said the previous name was scientifically misleading.
“It was heartbreaking to see the delayed diagnosis, limited awareness and inadequate care afforded those affected by this neglected condition,” Teede said.
She added that research showed there was “actually no increase in abnormal cysts on the ovary”, despite the condition’s long-standing name.
Experts say the old terminology often led to confusion, delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatment because many patients who did not present with ovarian cysts, still experienced the hormonal and metabolic complications associated with the syndrome.
Durban-based specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Sagie Naidu said the new terminology better reflected the complexity of the condition, although he remained uncertain whether the change would significantly alter clinical practice.
“Basically what it means now is that it describes the name more from a scientific point of view, and applicable to most patients,” Naidu said.
He explained that the syndrome had traditionally been diagnosed using three key criteria: ovarian morphology identified through ultrasound, insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism, a condition where the body produced higher levels of male hormones.
“You only need two out of the three criteria to make that diagnosis. So that means now you can still have this polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, starting from the ovaries. Your ovaries may appear to be normal, but you have the other two groups of endocrine abnormalities.”
Naidu said the metabolic effects of the condition could have long-term health consequences.
“The insulin resistance is responsible for the dark pigmentation around the neck called acanthosis nigricans, and that can make someone put on weight. They have metabolic problems later on like disturbance in the cholesterol levels,” he said.
“It puts them at greater risk of diabetes in their mid-40s, greater risk for cholesterol problems and therefore cardiac events.”
He added that the term “polyendocrine” highlighted the multiple hormonal disturbances associated with the condition.
“It means that it is a multiple hormonal problem. You have increased insulin levels, and there is a disturbance of hormones called FSH and LH, which are responsible for egg production. When there is an imbalance in those hormones, it causes the cysts within the ovaries.”
Naidu noted the same Australian-led research group that helped establish the diagnostic criteria for PCOS was instrumental in driving the name change in collaboration with academics worldwide, including researchers from South Africa.
“They felt that the old term was misleading when they said 'polycystic', because it meant the condition was solely about ovarian cysts.
“Now this condition reflects a more complex, more holistic term encompassing the whole body, hormonal and metabolic changes of this whole syndrome.”
Despite understanding the rationale behind the change, Naidu questioned whether it would improve diagnosis rates in practice.
“I do not think that it will change. A lot of doctors were already better informed about polycystic ovarian syndrome and could diagnose it clinically.”
He said clinicians often recognised the condition through symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain, acne, excessive facial hair and hair loss, all signs linked to insulin resistance and elevated testosterone levels.
Naidu also expressed concern that the new terminology could encourage more extensive biochemical testing before diagnosis.
“Previously they moved it to more of a clinical diagnosis. Now making it a biochemical and endocrine diagnosis may add a few more steps before you get the actual result.”
However, he acknowledged that patient advocacy groups had pushed strongly for greater clarity and awareness around the condition.
“There has been a clamour from patients and women’s groups who wanted more clarity and a better understanding of what was happening in their bodies.
“They want people to take it more seriously, to say this is a chronic problem, it is a complex health condition, and it deserves the attention that it needs to get.”
Naidu added that the transition to the new terminology would likely take time for clinicians and the public.
“It takes me the whole day trying to say PMOS,” he joked.