PCOS Has a New Name: What the Change to PMOS Means for Women’s Health

For years, polycystic ovary syndrome, better known as PCOS, has been one of the most common but misunderstood health conditions affecting women.

Now, an international panel of physicians, researchers and patient advocates has given PCOS a new name: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS.

The change, announced this spring in The Lancet, aims to better reflect the condition's full-body nature. While PMOS has long been associated with irregular periods and fertility challenges, physicians say the disorder affects far more than reproductive health.

“This really incorporates more endocrine and metabolic features into the diagnosis,” says Dr. Emily B. Brophy, an OB-GYN at Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health. “Many of us have long understood that this condition impacts much more than the ovaries.”

PMOS affects at least one in 10 women in the United States, according to Dr. Katherine Sherif, an internist and women’s health specialist at Jefferson Health. Some estimates place the number even higher.

“We believe that at least 50% of women with PMOS are undiagnosed,” Dr. Sherif says. 

Traditionally, PMOS was viewed primarily as a reproductive disorder because it can cause irregular periods, ovarian cysts and infertility. But experts increasingly recognize that the condition is deeply connected to metabolism, hormones and long-term health risks.

“Insulin resistance is a big part of PMOS,” Dr. Brophy says. “It increases insulin in the body, which can contribute to a whole downstream effect outside of just the ovaries.” 

That metabolic impact can include obesity, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease. Elevated androgen levels may also contribute to symptoms such as acne, excess facial or body hair and hair thinning.

The new name better represents the condition as a whole-body disorder rather than one limited to fertility or ovarian cysts. Many people diagnosed with PMOS do not actually have ovarian cysts, and the original name left out many of the metabolic and endocrine features that can significantly affect health over time. 

Dr. Brophy says she hopes the new terminology encourages patients to think more broadly about their health. “So many patients have focused solely on fertility or their ovaries,” she says. “I’m hopeful this helps people understand that it’s also an endocrine and metabolic condition that affects many other aspects of the body.” 

The change could also help shape future research and treatment efforts. Because PCOS has historically fallen between medical specialties, Dr. Sherif says many patients have slipped through the cracks. “It’s usually been viewed as a reproductive disorder, but it’s actually a metabolic disorder,” Dr. Sherif says. “There hasn’t been enough research funding because the science community has often viewed it only through a reproductive lens.” 

At the same time, Dr. Sherif says changing the name alone will not solve the larger issue of underdiagnosis. “What I think about is: Will this improve patient care?” she says. “I hope the attention surrounding the name change increases awareness, but I’m not sure whether the change itself will result in more women being diagnosed.” 

She worries the new acronym could create confusion or unintentionally shift focus away from symptoms women already tend to dismiss. That’s why both physicians emphasize the importance of paying attention to menstrual health and seeking answers when something feels off.

“Periods are like a vital sign,” Dr. Sherif says. “If they’re not occurring regularly, or if bleeding is unusually heavy or absent, you should talk to your clinician.”

Treatment for PMOS depends on a patient’s symptoms, goals and overall health. For some, that may involve hormonal therapies to regulate periods and protect the uterus. Others may benefit from medications that target insulin resistance or help manage weight, acne or excess hair growth. Lifestyle changes also remain an important part of care.

“There is a very strong correlation between improving insulin resistance, weight management and improving menstrual cycles,” Dr. Brophy says. “It all plays a bigger global picture in the human body.” 

For patients trying to conceive, some medications can help stimulate ovulation and improve fertility outcomes.

Ultimately, both physicians hope the renewed attention surrounding PMOS leads to earlier diagnosis, more education and better long-term care.

“This is still the same disorder,” Dr. Sherif says. “But I hope the attention surrounding the name change increases awareness.”