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Polycystic ovary syndrome has beeen officially renamed to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome to reflect its complex multisystem pathophysiology, eliminate diagnostic confusion surrounding "cysts," and standardize global care.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) impacts nearly 1 in 8 women, but concerns over its terminology have prompted a major global naming change. An international consensus process issued in "The Lancet" has established polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) as the novel name for the condition.
Why change the name?
The term “polycystic ovary” can be ambiguous because pathological ovarian cysts are not a characteristic feature of the ailment. As per the consensus report, the terminology may therefore contribute to misunderstanding among patients, clinicians, policymakers, and the public. More importantly, PCOS extends well beyond the ovaries. Its clinical features can include:
The authors also emphasize concerns that the reproductive emphasis of the existing name can contribute to stigma, particularly in cultures where fertility is strongly linked with social value. Confusion surrounding the terminology may also impact communication, diagnosis, clinical care, research classification, and health-policy framing.
How was the new name selected?
The naming initiative involved 56 academic, clinical, and patient organisations and utilized an extensive, multistep global consensus process. This encompassed:
The process emphasized reducing stigma, maintaining scientific accuracy, improving clarity, ensuring cultural appropriateness, and supporting practical implementation. Participants preferred developing an accurate new name rather than retaining the PCOS acronym or adopting a generic term. The final terminology incorporated “polyendocrine,” “metabolic,” and “ovarian” to reflect the condition's multisystem pathophysiology.
Why PMOS?
PMOS removes the potentially misleading reference to cysts while capturing the condition's endocrine, metabolic, and ovarian dysfunction. The consensus process also considered terms such as “reproductive” and “ovulatory.” However, “reproductive” was considered potentially stigmatizing or overly focused on fertility, while “ovulatory” was viewed as too narrow. “Ovarian” was ultimately preferred because it encompasses broader ovarian, follicular, and ovulatory disturbances.
What happens next?
The change will be implemented gradually rather than replacing PCOS immediately. A global, co-designed implementation plan outlines a phased transition supported by education, multilingual resources, health-system integration, disease-classification updates, and collaboration with research and policy bodies.
The authors describe this approach as “evolution rather than transformation,” allowing PMOS to be progressively adopted across clinical practice, research, education, and health policy. The consensus acknowledges limitations, including lower participation from low-income and middle-income countries and from some regions, as well as potential selection bias from voluntary recruitment.
The Lancet
Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process
Prof Helena J Teede et al.
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