PCOS renamed PMOS to better reflect hormonal and metabolic disorder

The medical condition previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been officially renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The change, announced on May 12, 2026, at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague and published in The Lancet, aims to more accurately represent the complex hormonal and metabolic nature of the disorder, which often extends beyond the ovaries.

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Medically, PMOS is now understood as a complex, lifelong condition influenced by genetic, developmental, metabolic and environmental factors.

Dr. Veronique Viardot-Foucault, director of clinical endocrinology at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, explained that the push for a name change began as early as 1995 but faced obstacles due to a lack of global consensus and patient engagement. This latest renaming effort, however, was the result of 14 years of international collaboration. Patient advocacy groups were instrumental, frequently describing the former name, PCOS, as confusing and overly focused on fertility, which does not align with the experiences of many affected individuals.

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It affects multiple hormone systems, including reproductive hormones, insulin regulation and brain-hormone signalling, with wide-ranging effects on metabolism, skin, mental health and overall well-being.

PMOS is now understood as a lifelong condition influenced by a combination of genetic, developmental, metabolic, and environmental factors. It impacts multiple hormone systems, including reproductive hormones, insulin regulation, and brain-hormone signaling, leading to wide-ranging effects on metabolism, skin health, mental well-being, and overall health. While the diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols remain unchanged, the new name, PMOS, highlights the endocrine and metabolic dimensions of the condition. Dr. Clara Ong, an obstetrician and gynecologist, noted that 'polyendocrine' acknowledges the involvement of various hormones throughout the body, not just those produced by the ovaries, while 'metabolic' underscores the disorder's impact on the body's energy processing systems.

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the term ‘polyendocrine’ acknowledges that the condition isn’t just an issue with the hormones produced in the ovaries – mainly oestrogen and progesterone – but involves other hormones throughout the body. And ‘metabolic’