Read Full Story“PCOS was treated as a fertility issue for decades because it was most often recognised when it affected periods, ovulation or conception.
Irregular periods, delayed cycles, acne, excess facial hair, weight gain or difficulty conceiving became the first point of consultation,” Dr. Kumar said.
“PCOS affects 10–13% of reproductive-aged women, with up to 70% remaining undiagnosed worldwide,” Dr. Kumar added.
She said the term “polycystic ovary syndrome” itself creates confusion because many women believe they have dangerous cysts in the ovaries.
According to Dr. Kumar, the shift from PCOS to PMOS is clinically important because it encourages doctors to look beyond fertility symptoms and screen women earlier for metabolic problems.
A condition long known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is now renamed as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), especially as doctors push for greater recognition of its links to diabetes, obesity, hormonal imbalance and mental health issues, not just infertility.
Dr. Sweta Kumar, Consultant OBGYN at Surya Mother and Child Superspeciality Hospital, said that the older understanding of PCOS focused too heavily on fertility and periods, while ignoring the larger metabolic impact of the condition.
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“PCOS was treated as a fertility issue for decades because it was most often recognised when it affected periods, ovulation or conception. Irregular periods, delayed cycles, acne, excess facial hair, weight gain or difficulty conceiving became the first point of consultation,” Dr. Kumar said.
She explained that many women only seek medical help when they struggle with pregnancy or irregular periods, which shifted the focus mainly toward ovulation and fertility treatment.
But the condition affects far more than reproductive health.
“PCOS affects 10–13% of reproductive-aged women, with up to 70% remaining undiagnosed worldwide,” Dr. Kumar added.
She said the term “polycystic ovary syndrome” itself creates confusion because many women believe they have dangerous cysts in the ovaries.
“Many women hear the word ‘cyst’ and assume there is something dangerous growing in the ovary. In reality, the ultrasound finding usually refers to multiple small follicles, not pathological ovarian cysts,” she explained.
Doctors now increasingly view the condition as a metabolic and hormonal disorder linked to insulin resistance and long-term health complications.
“Many women are dealing with a wider endocrine and metabolic disturbance involving insulin resistance, raised androgens, ovulation problems, skin changes, weight-related difficulty and longer-term risks such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, lipid abnormalities, fatty liver disease, sleep apnoea and pregnancy complications,” Dr. Kumar said.
She added that anxiety, depression and body-image distress are also commonly seen in women with the condition.
According to Dr. Kumar, the shift from PCOS to PMOS is clinically important because it encourages doctors to look beyond fertility symptoms and screen women earlier for metabolic problems.
“It asks doctors to look earlier and wider: at sugar, lipids, blood pressure, weight, mental health and long-term metabolic risk, instead of limiting care to periods and fertility,” she said.
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