Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) has been officially renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) following a comprehensive review by 56 international scientific, clinical, and patient organizations. The change, published in The Lancet, aims to more accurately reflect the condition's systemic nature, emphasizing its metabolic and hormonal impacts beyond ovarian changes. Experts argue that the previous term caused misinterpretation, as the 'cysts' are actually arrested follicles, and obscured associated risks like insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Despite the nomenclature update, diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols remain unchanged. Diagnosis still requires two of three factors: ovulatory dysfunction, excess androgens, or ovarian changes. Treatments continue to include hormonal contraceptives, metformin, and lifestyle modifications. The transition to the new name will be implemented over the next three years, involving updates to medical records and international classification systems like the WHO's ICD. This shift seeks to improve public and professional understanding of PMOS as a multisystemic disorder affecting women of reproductive age, addressing the fact that up to 70% of cases currently go undiagnosed.