‘Unprecedented’ global effort gives new name to polycystic ovary syndrome – and new hope to millions of women
Summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder affecting about 170 million women worldwide, has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) after over a decade of global work. The new name better reflects the wide effects of the condition on hormones, metabolism, and the risk of diabetes and heart disease, not just the ovaries.Key Facts
- PCOS affects about one in eight women globally, totaling approximately 170 million women.
- The condition has been renamed PMOS to better describe its broad impact on hormone balance and metabolism.
- The name change was announced at the European Congress of Endocrinology and published in the Lancet medical journal.
- The change followed 14 years of collaboration among international medical groups and patient organizations across six continents.
- The old name "polycystic ovary syndrome" was misleading because not all patients have ovarian cysts, and the cysts are actually immature eggs, not true cysts.
- PMOS involves hormone imbalances like excess male hormones (androgens) and insulin resistance, affecting reproductive health and increasing risks for diabetes and heart disease.
- The renaming effort was led by endocrinologist Prof Helena Teede, who aims to improve diagnosis and treatment by removing confusion linked to the old name.
- Patients played a key role in pushing for the name change to better represent their experiences with the condition.
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