On Monday, May 12, 2026, an international panel of experts dubbed the Global Name Change Consortium announced — via a health policy paper published in The Lancet — the official name change of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). Previously, doctors would diagnose the condition formerly known as PCOS based on the presence of fluid-filled cysts on a person’s ovaries.
This condition is also characterized by irregular periods and unusual hair growth due to hormonal imbalances. By shifting the name of the condition to focus on its metabolic implications, rather than the presence of ovarian cysts, and through the health policy changes outlined in the Lancet paper, the global expert panel is now aiming to emphasize the true systemic impact of this condition.
Getting from PCOS to PMOS took no less than 14 years involving multidisciplinary expert consultations as well as surveys conducted with a total of 14,360 participants who had received a diagnosis.
Medical News Today published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 13 May 2026.
The item focuses on From PCOS to PMOS: How this name change is set to improve care.
Review the original article for the full source wording and details.