After more than a decade of discussion and debate, polycystic ovary syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is being renamed. The chronic hormonal disorder will now be called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS.
The main reason for the name change is the old name was considered misleading because many individuals with the condition do not have cysts (they have follicles) and the name PCOS failed to represent the full-body metabolic impact. When the condition was first discovered it was thought there were cysts in the ovaries.
The new name was published in The Lancet and announced on May 12, 2026 at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague.
“The hope was that with a more comprehensive and accurate name change, that it would start to enable and push better care,” said Dr. Melanie Cree, one of the authors of the Lancet article and a pediatric endocrinology expert at the University of Colorado Anschutz.
The condition is estimated to affect an estimated 10% to 13% of reproductive age women worldwide, but an estimated 70% don’t know they have it, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
What does PMOS stand for?
The name change follows a 14-year global consensus process involving researchers, doctors, and patients, including Canadian experts, to better reflect the condition’s complex hormonal and metabolic nature. The new name represents the full-body metabolic impact.
Polyendocrine: Impacts multiple hormone glands.
Metabolic: Highlights the central insulin/weight components.
Ovarian: Acknowledges ovarian dysfunction without incorrectly focusing on “cysts.”
What is PMOS?
In Canada, women are diagnosed with PMOS (formerly PCOS) when two out of the following three criteria are met:
- Irregular menstrual cycles.
- Hyperandrogenism, which is the overproduction of testosterone that can lead to acne, baldness or excessive hair growth.
- An ultrasound that shows an increase in the growth of ovarian follicles, where eggs develop; or a blood test that confirms high levels of the anti-müllerian hormone, which is produced by follicles.
It can present as cysts in the ovaries, as the name would suggest. However, the condition can include many more symptoms, including irregular menstrual cycles, difficulty getting pregnant, female-patterned baldness, acne or oily skin, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to WHO. Women with the condition can also struggle with anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
The condition also puts people at greater risk of developing other health issues including obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea and endometrial cancer.
No one knows exactly what causes the condition, but there’s evidence that genetics and obesity play roles, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
How can PMOS be treated?
PMOS is typically managed through a combination of lifestyle changes, symptom-specific treatment, and sometimes medication. Treatment depends on the person’s goals and symptoms — for example, whether the main concern is irregular periods, acne, excess hair growth, weight changes, insulin resistance, or fertility.
There is currently no single “cure” for PMOS, but many people successfully manage symptoms and live very healthy lives with the right treatment plan. A family doctor, endocrinologist, gynecologist, or fertility specialist can help tailor treatment to the individual.
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