More Than "Polycystic Ovaries": Why experts are calling for a new name for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Written by: Katrina Khosravi

For millions of women around the world, receiving a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is often met with a mix of relief, fear, and confusion. Yet, many women may ask themselves, "Does this just mean my ovaries have lots of cysts?” The answer is no (1). Despite its name, PCOS is not simply a condition defined by ovarian cysts. As our understanding of PCOS has evolved, it has become increasingly clear that its name does not fully capture the complexity of the condition. A name that better reflects its hormonal, metabolic, and ovarian features could therefore help reshape how PCOS is understood, diagnosed, and treated. 

What is PCOS?

PCOS is a complex endocrine disorder that impacts hormone production, ovulation, and metabolism (1). It affects approximately one in eight women worldwide (2). Common symptoms include irregular periods, acne, unwanted hair growth, and difficulty becoming pregnant. Some individuals may also experience metabolic changes, such as insulin resistance, weight changes, or an increased risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes, as well as psychological impacts, including higher rates of anxiety and depression (1).

The wide range of symptoms associated with PCOS can make diagnosis challenging, with one Canadian study reporting an average delay of approximately 4.3 years between first seeking medical care for PCOS-related symptoms and receiving a diagnosis (3). Delayed diagnosis may leave symptoms untreated for longer, resulting in important health concerns being missed.

Over the past two decades, research has shifted our understanding of PCOS. Scientists now recognize that it is far more than an ovarian condition - it is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder that can affect nearly every aspect of women's health.

Why the Name 'PCOS' Is Misleading – and Why a New Name Matters

The term Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is increasingly viewed as outdated because it only emphasizes one feature of the condition while overlooking the hormonal and metabolic dysfunction at its core. The name also suggests that ovarian cysts are required for diagnosis, when many women diagnosed with PCOS never develop them. Because of this, researchers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates have increasingly argued that the name no longer reflects the science.

Following an international consensus published in The Lancet in 2026, experts officially adopted the term Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) (2). This new name reflects the three major components of the condition: endocrine (hormonal), metabolic, and ovarian dysfunction. By better reflecting its complexity, the new name aims to broaden recognition of PCOS beyond the ovaries, potentially supporting earlier diagnosis and more comprehensive care.

At first glance, changing a medical name may seem like a small difference. But names shape how diseases are understood, especially by patients, families, and society. This is particularly important for PMOS, given that its effects extend beyond reproductive health. In addition to its reproductive effects, PMOS is associated with insulin resistance, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and long-term reproductive health concerns (1). Recognizing these broader range of health effects is important because managing PMOS requires a holistic approach, involving endocrinology, nutrition, mental health, primary care, and reproductive medicine – not gynecology alone (1).  A name that reflects this clinical understanding will hopefully help with greater awareness, enhancing diagnosis, and improving care quality, encouraging healthcare systems and patients to recognize the condition as more than just a reproductive disorder (2). Perhaps most importantly, a name that better reflects the biology of the condition sends an important message to women: your experience is real, and your health deserves better attention and care.

A Turning Point for Women’s Health

The shift from PCOS to PMOS reflects decades of research that have changed our understanding of this condition, and it signals a broader turning point in women’s health. Recent advances, from the development of a saliva-based microRNA test to diagnose endometriosis (4) to Melinda French Gates’s $215 million donation to advancing women’s health (5), demonstrate growing attention and investment in conditions that have historically been underfunded and overlooked. This momentum represents an important step toward improving research, diagnosis, and care for women’s health conditions, as well as recognizing that women's health deserves to be understood with the same accuracy, investment, and urgency as every other area of medicine.

About the author:

Katrina grew up in Burlington, Vermont, and is currently based in Montreal, Quebec, where she completed her BSc and is now pursuing her MSc in Epidemiology at McGill University. She is passionate about women’s health, prevention, and longevity, with a particular interest in improving health education and awareness among young women. Her thesis research focuses on the timing of menopausal hormone therapy initiation relative to menopause and its association with ovarian cancer risk. In her free time, she loves to travel, play tennis, and paint!

References:

1. Teede, H. J., Tay, C. T., Laven, J. J. E., Dokras, A., Moran, L. J., Piltonen, T., Costello, M. F., Boivin, J., Redman, L. M., Boyle, J. A., Norman, R. J., Mousa, A., & Joham, A. E. (2023). Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. European Journal of Endocrinology, 189(2), G43–G64. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejendo/lvad096

2. Teede, H. J., Khomami, M. B., Morman, R., et al. (2026). Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: A multistep global consensus process. The Lancet, 407, 2329–2339.

3. Sydora, B. C., Wilke, M. S., McPherson, M., Chambers, S., Ghosh, M., & Vine, D. F. (2023). Challenges in diagnosis and health care in polycystic ovary syndrome in Canada: A patient view to improve health care. BMC Women’s Health, 23, Article 569. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02732-2

4. Bendifallah, S., Roman, H., Suisse, S., Spiers, A., Petit, E., Delbos, L., Dabi, Y., Touboul, C., Dennis, T., Merlot, B., Sauvanet, E., Fauvet, R., Jamard, E., Clotilde, H., Perrin, M., Fedida, B., Nyangoh, K., Lavoué, V., Roger, C. M., Lucas, N., … Descamps, P. (2025). Validation of a saliva micro-RNA signature for endometriosis. NEJM Evidence, 4(11), EVIDoa2400195. https://doi.org/10.1056/EVIDoa2400195

5. Time. (2026, June 4). Melinda French Gates commits $215 million to advancing women’s health. TIME. https://time.com/article/2026/06/04/melinda-french-gates-pivotal-womens-health-midlife/