Polycystic ovary syndrome renamed to reflect condition’s complexity
- Research
- 2 min read
For decades, the name ‘polycystic ovary syndrome’ has left many patients confused and some misdiagnosed. A landmark rename could change how the condition is understood, treated, and talked about.
The hormonal and metabolic disorder polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).
The new name, published this week in The Lancet, is the result of 14 years of global collaboration involving more than 22,000 survey responses, international workshops, and over 50 patient and professional organisations.
The effort was led by Director of the Monash Centre for Health Research & Implementation (MCHRI) Professor Helena Teede AM, an endocrinologist at Monash Health who has spent decades researching the condition and advocating for better care for those affected.
She had also led the mammoth global effort to establish the International Evidence-based Guideline for the assessment and management of PMOS.
Why the name needed to change
The old name led many patients and clinicians to focus narrowly on ovarian cysts, but research has since shown there is no increase in abnormal cysts in the condition.
In reality, PMOS is a complex, long-term hormonal and metabolic disorder with wide-ranging impacts on weight, mental health, skin, and the reproductive system.
‘It was heartbreaking to see the delayed diagnosis, limited awareness, and inadequate care afforded those affected by this neglected condition,’ Professor Teede said.
The new name reflects that complexity, foregrounding the hormonal (polyendocrine) and metabolic dimensions of the condition rather than reducing it to a single, misleading physical feature.
A Monash Health contribution, in research and in care
Monash Health is not only home to the researchers who drove this global effort. It is also where patients in Victoria can access world-class, specialised care.
The Women’s Reproductive Health PCOS clinic (which will be officially renamed the Women’s Reproductive Health PMOS in the coming months), led by Associate Professor Anju Joham, is Victoria’s dedicated clinic for people living with the condition, providing multidisciplinary care informed by the latest evidence.
The combination of cutting-edge research and direct patient care is what makes Monash Health’s contribution to this field distinctive. The same expertise shaping international guidelines is also being applied every day in clinic.
What comes next
The transition to the new name will take place over 3 years, supported by a major international education and awareness campaign for patients, health professionals, governments, and researchers.
The new name is expected to be fully embedded in the 2028 International Guideline update.
For Australian woman Lorna Berry, who has PMOS and played an active role in the renaming process, the change is deeply personal.
‘We deserve clarity, understanding, and equitable healthcare from the very beginning,’ she said.
Read more about the name change here: https://mchri.org.au/guidelines-resources/community/pcos-resources-2/
