The global effort to change the name was led by Monash University, which involved 56 patient and professional organizations.
PMOS is characterized by fluctuations in hormone levels that affect weight, metabolism, mental health, skin, and the reproductive system.
Helena Teede, PhD, MBBS, director of Monash University’s Center for Health Research & Implementation and an endocrinologist at Monash Health, led the renaming effort after decades of research.
Dr. Teede led the process alongside Terhi Piltonen, PhD, Anuja Dokras, PhD, Rachel Morman, and 56 patient and professional organizations, including the Endocrine Society.
“This shift will reframe the conversation and demand that it is taken as seriously as the long-term, complex health condition it is.
In a recent press release, the Endocrine Society announced that polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) is the new name for the condition previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which affects one in eight women, representing more than 170 million women across the globe. The global effort to change the name was led by Monash University, which involved 56 patient and professional organizations.
PMOS is characterized by fluctuations in hormone levels that affect weight, metabolism, mental health, skin, and the reproductive system. For years, the name reduced a complex, long‑term endocrine disorder to a misunderstanding about “cysts” with an overemphasis on the ovaries, leading to missed diagnoses and inadequate care.
Helena Teede, PhD, MBBS, director of Monash University’s Center for Health Research & Implementation and an endocrinologist at Monash Health, led the renaming effort after decades of research. She has firsthand experience observing its impact on patients.
Dr. Teede, who is also a member of the Endocrine Society, stated, “What we now know is that there is actually no increase in abnormal cysts on the ovary, and the diverse features of the condition were often unappreciated. It was heartbreaking to see the delayed diagnosis, limited awareness and inadequate care afforded those affected by this neglected condition.”
Although international guidelines have led to increased awareness and advances in care, the name change is an important step toward recognition of the long-terms effects on women with the condition.
The name‑change effort, detailed in a recent issue of The Lancet, was the result of 14 years of global collaboration between experts and study participants living with the disease. Dr. Teede led the process alongside Terhi Piltonen, PhD, Anuja Dokras, PhD, Rachel Morman, and 56 patient and professional organizations, including the Endocrine Society.
In the press release Dr. Teede explained: “The agreed principles of the new name included patient benefit, scientific accuracy, ease of communication, avoidance of stigma, cultural appropriateness, and accompanying implementation. This change was driven with and for those affected by the condition, and we are proud to have arrived at a new name that finally accurately reflects the complexity of the condition. Make no mistake, this is a landmark moment that will lead to desperately needed worldwide advancements in clinical practice and research.”
Also in the press release, Dr. Terhi Piltonen noted that a key aspect of the renaming process involved taking into account the different needs of various cultures and stated: “It was essential that the new name was scientifically correct but also considered across diverse cultural contexts to avoid certain reproductive terms that could heighten stigma and be harmful for women in some countries. This made a culturally and internationally informed consultation critical to getting it right.”
Lorna Berry, an Australian woman living with PMOS who played a key role in the renaming process, stated that the outcome will be transformative: “This is about accountability and progress. It is about my daughters, their daughters, and the countless women yet to be born. We deserve clarity, understanding, and equitable healthcare from the very beginning.”
Rachel Morman, chair of Verity (PCOS UK) and a lived-experience expert, commented on the global name change process, pointing out that the previous name misrepresented the true nature of this condition. “It is fantastic that the new name now leads with hormones and recognizes the metabolic dimension of the condition,” she said. “This shift will reframe the conversation and demand that it is taken as seriously as the long-term, complex health condition it is. Despite decades of tireless advocacy to improve awareness, we recognized that the risk of change would be worth the reward.”
More information about the name change and access to resources on PMOS in multiple languages is available on the Monash Center for Health Research and Implementation website.
