PCOS Is Officially Renamed, After Decades of Misinformation

Key Points:

• A global science consortium has proposed renaming polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) to better reflect the disorder's multisystem nature and address inaccuracies in the current name.
• The term PCOS is misleading because it focuses on ovarian cysts, which are actually underdeveloped follicles, and ignores the broader endocrine, metabolic, psychological, and dermatological symptoms that can persist beyond reproductive years.
• PMOS affects approximately 170 million people worldwide, with up to 70% undiagnosed, partly due to misconceptions about the disorder being solely reproductive; adding "metabolic" highlights associated risks like insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
• The name change follows 14 years of collaboration among healthcare experts, patients, and advocates, aiming to improve diagnosis, treatment, and awareness, with plans to educate the public and update international health classifications over the next three years.
• Despite increased research and treatments like metformin showing promise, many patients lack proper care and insurance coverage, a gap the new terminology hopes to address by encouraging better recognition of the syndrome's metabolic aspects.