PCOS becoming PMOS: Why The Name Change Matters

Condition 07 October, 2026

PCOS is now called PMOS: here's why

For many years, PCOS has been considered to be a misleading name by patients and healthcare professionals. There are 3 main reasons for this:

1) Patients don’t have true ovarian cysts

Functional (or simple) ovarian cysts are a normal part of the menstrual cycle. They develop from follicles — the fluid-filled sacs where eggs mature. Occasionally, instead of releasing an egg once mature, a follicle keeps growing and filling with fluid instead of rupturing.

These cysts are usually small, resolve on their own within a few months, and typically don't cause symptoms. Women with PCOS may develop functional cysts more frequently than those without the condition.

Functional cysts are different from abnormal ovarian cysts, which are more likely to cause symptoms — often because of their larger size, or if they rupture or twist.

2) The ovaries are not the root cause

PCOS has never been just an ovarian condition. It disrupts several different hormone systems. This includes, but is not limited to, hormone production by the ovaries. It causes the ovaries to make more of a group of hormones called androgens, which includes testosterone.

However, PCOS also affects reproductive hormones, such as oestrogen, progesterone, luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, as well as insulin.

3) The name PCOS ignores the major metabolic side of the condition

The term PCOS puts the focus exclusively on symptoms affecting the ovaries ie irregular periods and its effect on fertility. However, the condition has a major impact on metabolic health.

By age 40, around half of women with PMOS will develop type 2 diabetes. This is because PMOS is linked to insulin resistance. They also have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, have also been linked to PMOS.

The new name of polyendocrine metabolic syndrome reflects the true nature of the condition. ‘Polyendocrine’ refers to the involvement of many (poly) hormone systems (endocrine) while ‘metabolic’ highlights the impact on how the body turns food into energy and balances hormones.

PMOS more accurately reflects how the condition affects the whole body, not just the ovaries.

How does the name change affect patients?

The focus on ovaries and ovarian cysts with the previous name, PCOS, led to confusion and delayed diagnosis for many women with the condition.

Those struggling with symptoms of PCOS who didn’t have polycystic ovaries sometimes found it harder to get an accurate diagnosis quickly. In some cases, women had their wider symptoms dismissed. For those who received a diagnosis and had polycystic ovaries, care often focused solely on their reproductive health.

The name PCOS encouraged a lack of joined-up care. This led to poorer outcomes for women with the condition as they struggled with its whole-body effects.

Patient advocacy groups in the UK and worldwide have been pushing for a name change for a number of years. Now that a more accurate name has been globally approved, there’s hope that it could support earlier diagnosis and more holistic care.

What’s next for PMOS?

Over the next few years, the change to PMOS will be adopted globally. This will create greater awareness of the whole-body effects of the disease, improve patient care and drive better research. Ultimately, these advances will lead to improved health outcomes for women with PMOS.

If you’re concerned about your hormone health, explore our at-home Women’s Hormone Health test and our in-clinic Women’s Hormone Health test.