PCOS Becomes Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome

A Health Policy article published in The Lancet reported that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) following a multistep global consensus process involving patients, health professionals, and organizations across world regions.

The authors said the previous name was inaccurate and misleading because it implied pathological ovarian cysts, while failing to reflect the condition’s broader endocrine and metabolic features, and contributing to delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, and stigma, while curtailing research and policy framing. They noted that PCOS affects more than 170 million women globally and is associated with metabolic, reproductive, psychological, and dermatological manifestations.

The consensus process included global Delphi surveys, nominal group technique workshops, and implementation and marketing analyses. Funding and governance were established with engagement from 56 academic, clinical, and patient organizations. The two new global surveys generated 14,360 responses from 10,411 people with PCOS and 3,949 health professionals, building on 7,708 responses from earlier surveys. Workshop representatives also participated from across world regions.

According to the article, participants prioritized scientific accuracy, ease of communication, stigma avoidance, cultural appropriateness, and feasibility of implementation. The final name, PMOS, was selected to reflect polyendocrine, metabolic, and ovarian dysfunction. The authors said the new terminology removes the misleading reference to cysts while retaining some similarity to PCOS to support a practical transition.

The authors reported that implementation is underway and will include a 3-year transition period, multilingual patient and clinician resources, integration into health records and disease classification systems, and planned incorporation into the 2028 update of the International Guideline. They concluded that the name change is intended to improve awareness, diagnosis, care quality, research alignment, and patient experience.

Source: Teede HJ, Bahri Khomami M, Morman R, et al. Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process. Lancet. 2026;407:2329-2339. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00717-8