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In a culmination of more than 10 years of global consultation, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has officially been renamed as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
This hormonal disorder affects an estimated \u201cPolycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS<\/a> has long been a confusing and misleading diagnosis for women that has not properly described this underdiagnosed medical condition,\u201d said Sherry Ross<\/a>, MD, board certified OB-GYN and Women\u2019s Health Expert at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cUsing the updated name of polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS, gives a more accurate and inclusive name to this medical condition, which affects women far beyond the ovaries,\u201d she told Healthline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Over the past 14 years, 56 academic, clinical, and patient organizations have been campaigning to change the name of PCOS. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The aim was to prioritize a new, accurate name rather than retaining the PCOS acronym or a generic name. The preferred terms to focus on were ovarian, metabolic, and polyendocrine in order to reflect the condition\u2019s multisystem effects. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n This led to a consensus for the new name, PMOS. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cBy putting \u2018endocrine\u2019 and \u2018metabolic\u2019 in the name, PMOS tells clinicians this is a whole-body condition, not just a gynecologic diagnosis,\u201d said Steven Vasilev<\/a>, MD, gynecologic oncologist specializing in endometriosis and founder of the Lotus Endometriosis Institute in Santa Monica, CA.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The accuracy of the name was improved by omitting cysts and emphasizing metabolic, endocrine<\/a>, and ovarian dysfunction. It was important to omit \u201ccysts<\/a>\u201d because not everyone with PCOS will experience ovarian cysts<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cPCOS has long been linked to polycystic ovaries seen on ultrasound, which is misleading, since [the] ovaries of affected patients can be completely normal. Having normal ovaries does not mean you do not have PCOS, and here lies the confusion,\u201d Ross said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cRenaming PCOS to PMOS creates a better backdrop to really understanding this multisystem endocrine condition. PMOS better identifies the patient experience of those who are suffering from the complex symptoms associated with this condition,\u201d Ross continued. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cPMOS provides more transparency and less confusion for those experiencing symptoms associated with this condition,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n The name \u201cpolycystic ovary syndrome\u201d has long been recognized as a limiting and inaccurate name. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n This misrepresentation has led to various consequences, including: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The new name, PMOS, addresses these issues in a few different ways: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The experts who were part of the renaming effort noted that this change may help to reshape how the condition is diagnosed, treated, and researched globally. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe new name should help push research toward the metabolic and hormonal roots of the disease \u2014 insulin resistance, androgen excess, and chronic inflammation \u2014 rather than focusing on ovarian cysts,\u201d said Vasilev. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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