PCOS Officially Renamed PMOS After Global Consensus Published in The Lancet

• PCOS has officially been renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, or PMOS, in a global medical consensus.

• The name change was published in The Lancet on May 12, 2026, after a 14-year international review.

• Experts said the previous term “PCOS” often caused confusion because many patients do not have ovarian cysts.

• World Health Organization estimates the condition affects 6 to 13 percent of women of reproductive age worldwide.

• Experts said the new name does not immediately change diagnosis or treatment, but future clinical guidelines will transition to PMOS.

The Lancet has published an international consensus statement officially renaming Polycystic Ovary Syndrome to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), marking the first formal name change for the condition since it was originally described nearly 90 years ago.¹

The announcement was published on May 12, 2026, and presented during the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague. The initiative followed a 14-year international consultation led by Helena Teede and involved 56 medical societies, research organizations, and patient advocacy groups across six continents.¹

The working group also collected responses from more than 22,000 stakeholders, including clinicians, researchers, and people living with PMOS, making it one of the largest naming consensus processes in women's health.¹

The international working group evaluated multiple alternative names through several Delphi consensus rounds before selecting Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome as the preferred terminology.¹

Why Was PCOS Renamed PMOS?

Experts said the previous term, PCOS, often created confusion because the condition is not defined by ovarian cysts alone.

Many people diagnosed with the disorder do not have ovarian cysts on imaging. Instead, ultrasound often shows multiple immature follicles that do not complete ovulation.¹ Researchers said the older terminology overemphasized ovarian findings while failing to communicate the broader endocrine and metabolic nature of the condition.¹

Researchers involved in the consensus process said many patients wait more than two years and often consult multiple healthcare professionals before receiving a diagnosis, highlighting persistent recognition gaps.¹

The new name reflects three major clinical components:

• Polyendocrine: involvement of multiple hormone systems

• Metabolic: links to insulin resistance, weight regulation, and cardiometabolic risk

• Ovarian: ovulatory dysfunction remains a key feature

According to the consensus statement, the revised terminology aims to improve early recognition, multidisciplinary care, public awareness, and research communication.¹

See also: PCOS Is More Than Irregular Periods: Experts Unpack the Hormone–Mood Link

How Common Is PMOS and Who Does It Affect?

According to World Health Organization, PMOS affects an estimated 6 to 13 percent of women of reproductive age worldwide, and up to 70 percent of affected individuals remain undiagnosed.²

Researchers involved in the renaming initiative estimate that approximately 170 million women worldwide live with the condition.¹

Symptoms can begin during adolescence and may include:

• Irregular or absent menstrual cycles

• Acne

• Excess facial or body hair

• Scalp hair thinning

• Difficulty with ovulation

• Weight gain or difficulty managing weight

According to the National Health Service, symptom severity varies widely, and not all patients show ovarian changes on ultrasound.³

PMOS Symptoms, Health Risks, and Long-Term Complications

Experts emphasized that PMOS affects multiple body systems beyond fertility.

The condition has established links with:

• Insulin resistance

• Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes

• Obesity

• High blood pressure

• Abnormal cholesterol levels

• Fatty liver disease

• Pregnancy complications

• Anxiety and depression

• Endometrial cancer risk²˒⁴

The 2023 international evidence-based guideline published by Monash University recommends long-term metabolic, reproductive, and psychological monitoring because of these broader health risks.⁴

What Genetic Research Reveals About PMOS

New genomic research published in Nature Genetics in 2025 identified additional genetic pathways linked to the disorder, including mechanisms related to insulin signaling, ovarian function, and inflammatory pathways.⁵

Researchers said these findings further support moving away from a name focused only on ovarian morphology.

Why Patients and Doctors Supported Renaming PCOS

Survey research published in Fertility and Sterility found that:

• 85.6 percent of patients supported changing the name

• 76.1 percent of healthcare professionals supported changing the name⁶

Participants reported that the term PCOS often led to misunderstanding, delayed diagnosis, and incomplete recognition of metabolic complications.⁶

See also: 'What Will Happen If You Can't Marry?’: How PCOS Stigma Impacts Young Women’s Mental Health

What the PCOS to PMOS Name Change Means for Patients

Experts said the name change does not alter diagnostic criteria or treatment recommendations immediately.

The name change does not alter current treatment approaches, which continue to include lifestyle interventions, hormonal therapies, and metabolic management based on individual symptoms.¹˒⁴

People previously diagnosed with PCOS remain diagnosed with the same clinical condition, but healthcare providers are expected to gradually adopt PMOS in:

• Clinical guidelines

• Research publications

• Medical education

• Patient resources

• Public health communication⁷

The next major international guideline update expected in 2028 will formally incorporate the new terminology.¹

1. International PCOS Network. “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Should Be Renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome.” The Lancet. May 12, 2026. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00717-8/fulltext

2. World Health Organization. “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Fact Sheet.” https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/polycystic-ovary-syndrome

3. National Health Service. “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/

4. Monash University. “International Evidence-Based Guideline for PCOS.” https://www.monash.edu/medicine/mchri/pcos/guideline

5. Li, Y., et al. “Genetic Architecture of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.” Nature Genetics (2025). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02393-x

6. Teede, H., et al. “Perspectives on Renaming Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.” Fertility and Sterility 120, no. 3 (2023). https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(23)00237-6/fulltext

7. Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation. “Community PCOS Resources.” https://www.mchri.org.au/guidelines-resources/community/pcos-resources-2/