PCOS Gets a New Name: Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects 1 in 8 women, including 170 million women during their reproductive years alone. It is estimated that up to 70% of women remain undiagnosed, in part due to inaccuracies or misunderstandings in the label PCOS. PCOS is also known to include pathology of the metabolic and endocrine systems; however, this has not been well represented by the name PCOS.

For these reasons, as well as to “enhance awareness, diagnosis, care quality, research coherence, and patient experience, strengthening policy, advocacy, and health outcomes globally,” a global renaming process officially replaced PCOS with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).

There has been some concern the term polycystic ovaries led to confusion with pathologic ovarian cysts, which are not increased in women with PMOS or a feature of the condition. This led to the exclusion of the term from the new name. Insulin resistance affects up to 85% of women with PMOS. This includes 75% of women with a BMI less than or equal to 25 kg/m². To support treatment and research efforts in this aspect of the syndrome, the term polyendocrine metabolic was incorporated. 

The diagnosis of PCOS is made based on the presence of 2 out of 3 criteria (following the exclusion of other diagnoses):

1. Hyperandrogenism (clinical or biochemical)
2. Ovulatory dysfunction (eg, irregular menstrual cycles)
3. Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound or (in adults) elevated antimüllerian hormone

In adolescents, ultrasonography and/or elevated antimüllerian hormone levels are not recommended for diagnosing PCOS due to unclear standards in this population, so only hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction may be used for diagnosing PCOS in adolescents.

International guidelines for the management of PCOS are expected to be updated with the new name PMOS in 2028.

For additional information on the diagnosis and treatment of PCOS, see this AFP Practice Guideline and Common Questions and Answers article.