The label polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been used since the 1930s to describe a collection of symptoms/signs that include insulin resistance, elevated androgens, irregular cycles, infertility, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, and anxiety.

 

I don’t think anyone was all that comfortable with that label, myself included.  Having studied PCOS in the 1990s in university and then diagnosing and treating it for the past 20+ years, it never quite felt right.  The focus on ovarian cysts felt wrong. It isn’t a primarily gynecologic disease. It is a disease of of metabolism, hormones, cardiovascular health, and mental wellbeing.

 

As of May 2026, polycystic ovary syndrome has a new name: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).

 

The change comes from a global consensus process involving over 14,000 patients and healthcare professionals across the world.

 

Polyendocrine reflects that this is a condition of multiple hormonal disturbances—not just the ovaries misbehaving. Elevated androgens, insulin resistance, neuroendocrine abnormalities, and altered ovarian hormones all play interconnected roles.

 

“Metabolic” acknowledges what research has long shown: this condition carries serious metabolic consequences, including higher rates of obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular risk.

 

“Ovarian” retains recognition of the ovarian dysfunction that remains a defining feature—disrupted follicle development, elevated anti-Müllerian hormone, and ovulatory problems—without implying the presence of cysts.

 

Accurate language shapes how patients understand their diagnosis, how doctors and nurses approach care, how researchers frame studies, and how policymakers allocate resources.

 

Dr. Beth Taylor