PCOS Is Now PMOS: Here’s What the Name Change Means for Women’s Health

An endocrine and metabolic condition that affects one in eight women of reproductive age now has a new name to reflect its varied symptoms. Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) was formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a name that was neither accurate nor comprehensive.

The condition’s name was officially changed in May 2026 after an international panel of researchers, physicians, advocates and patients collaborated to agree upon a name that would accurately define the disease and improve diagnosis. According to an article in the Lancet announcing the name change, “The term PCOS is inaccurate, implying pathological ovarian cysts, obscuring diverse endocrine and metabolic features, and contributing to delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, and stigma, while curtailing research and policy framing.”

Why does PMOS have a new name?

For years, millions of women struggling with irregular periods, acne, unwanted hair growth or difficulty getting pregnant have been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). While this created great concern in patients who worried about large cysts, ruptured cysts or cysts making hormones, the reality is that ovarian cysts have never been part of this syndrome.

The PMOS name change reflects decades of research showing that the condition affects far more than the reproductive system.

“The name change was driven by patients to have better clarity on what the condition actually is and to avoid the stigma associated with it,” says Judy Simms-Cendan, M.D., pediatric and adolescent gynecologist at UHealth.

The name originated decades ago, when gynecologists doing surgery on patients with irregular periods and excess hair observed numerous very small follicles just below the surface of the ovaries. Those follicles aren’t ovarian cysts, but the terminology still creates confusion.

“Every day, patients come to me worried because they’ve been told they have cysts that are going to rupture or cause problems, and it has nothing to do with cysts on their ovaries,” says Dr. Simms-Cendan.

The new name shifts the focus from the ovaries to metabolic and endocrine dysfunction that are the underlying drivers of PMOS. “Tying it all together by associating it across the whole body and not just pinning it on the ovaries is important and can paint a better picture,” says Dr. Simms-Cendan.

What is PMOS?

PMOS is one of the most common hormone disorders affecting women of reproductive age. Hormonal or metabolic issues, usually insulin resistance and excess testosterone production, disrupt normal ovulation, leading to a wide range of symptoms that can vary significantly from person to person.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates up to 70% of women with PMOS worldwide don’t know they have it.

Common symptoms include:

• Irregular or missed periods
• Acne and excess facial and body hair
• Difficulty becoming pregnant, as women with PMOS ovulate less often
• Rapid weight gain or challenges losing weight

Not everyone with PMOS looks the same, making it more difficult to diagnose. For example, Dr. Simms-Cendan says, “Obesity is a well-known risk factor, but about half of people with the condition are at a normal weight.” Depending on genetics and ethnicity and a person’s skin sensitivity to testosterone, they may or may not see extra facial hair or acne.

PMOS affects more than the reproductive system

Although many people historically associated PCOS with fertility, the condition affects the entire body. For many people with PMOS, insulin resistance triggers hormone changes that disrupt ovulation and increase androgen levels, including testosterone.

“The reproductive parts are the downstream effect. It’s your endocrine issue that’s driving what’s happening,” says Dr. Simms-Cendan.

This is an important distinction, since understanding PMOS as an endocrine condition explains why it increases the risk of other health conditions, including:

• Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Endometrial (uterine) cancer from prolonged lack of ovulation
• Fertility challenges

Emphasizing these broader health risks of having PMOS is key to encouraging earlier screening and treatment.

Could the new name improve diagnosis?

One of the biggest hopes for the name change is more accurate, earlier diagnosis. Many people go years without being diagnosed with a condition that causes burdensome and embarrassing symptoms, such as male-pattern hair growth. On the other hand, teens are often misdiagnosed.

For example, around 30% of teenagers naturally have ovaries that appear “polycystic” on an ultrasound because they have a large number of developing follicles, reflecting the presence of millions of eggs. “That’s why we don’t use how ovaries appear on ultrasound in diagnosing PCOS in teenagers,” says Dr. Simms-Cendan, who sees teens every day in the clinic who were told they have PCOS based only on imaging findings.

Clearer terminology and greater awareness of the underlying hormonal and metabolic changes may reduce delays in diagnosis and unnecessary diagnoses.

How is PMOS treated?

Although there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment, many people successfully manage PMOS –– which is why naming the condition is so important.

Weight loss helps those whose symptoms are linked to obesity. “Losing even 5% to 10% of the excess body weight can help people ovulate again,” says Dr. Simms-Cendan.

Treatment may also include:

• Lifestyle changes such as healthy eating and regular physical activity
• Medications like metformin to improve insulin sensitivity
• Hormonal birth control to regulate menstrual cycles and reduce acne or excess hair growth
• Fertility medications for people trying to become pregnant

Researchers are also studying whether GLP-1 medications may play a role in treating some patients with PMOS. More research is needed to determine which patients may benefit most.

When to talk to your doctor

If you experience any of the following, schedule an evaluation with your provider:

• Irregular or infrequent menstrual periods
• Persistent acne or excess facial or body hair
• Difficulty becoming pregnant
• Signs of insulin resistance, such as darkened skin on the neck or under the arms
• General concerns about your menstrual or reproductive health

Early diagnosis and treatment can help manage symptoms, protect long-term health and support your reproductive goals.

Frequently asked questions about PCOS or PMOS

When should I see a doctor about irregular periods?

It’s normal to have irregular periods in the first year of menstruation. After one year, you should experience the first day of each period every 21 to 45 days. Skipping periods for three to six months is never normal and might be caused by PMOS.

Can I get pregnant with PMOS?

While irregular ovulation makes getting pregnant more challenging, effective fertility treatments are available to help you conceive when you’re ready.

That said, an unexpected pregnancy is absolutely possible with PMOS, so don’t consider the condition a form of birth control.

How do I prevent increased hair growth and acne from PMOS?

Birth control pills are the most effective way to lower testosterone levels that cause hair growth and acne. Those that contain drospirenone are very effective at lowering testosterone levels without also causing weight gain. Lower testosterone levels also help people have a reduced appetite and lose weight. For those who cannot take birth control pills, there are options such as spironolactone that can lower testosterone levels and improve symptoms.

Written by Wendy Margolin. Medically reviewed by Judy Simms-Cendan, M.D.

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Tags: Comprehensive Women's Health Alliance, Dr. Judy Simms Cendan, endocrine disorder, metabolic disorder, PCOS, PMOS, polycystic ovary syndrome, Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, UHealth Comprehensive Women's Alliance