If you live with PCOS, or if someone in your circle has it, you may have heard this new development: polycystic ovary syndrome has officially changed its name. Since May 2026, it is now referred to as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome in English).
Why is this change important? Why is it happening now? What will this change mean for you? Let me explain everything here.
Quick reminder
On average, 1 in 8/10 women has PCOS / SOPK, and it is the leading cause of female infertility in France.
Where does this change come from
This is not a decision made lightly: the new nomenclature was announced in a publication in the Lancet on May 12, 2026, one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals.
Some figures to put the scale into perspective: 56 professional organizations and patient groups participated, 22,000 people responded to global surveys, including 14,360 people living with the condition, alongside multidisciplinary healthcare professionals from all regions of the world.
Why change a century-old name
The foundational description of the syndrome dates back to 1935, when American gynecologists Irving Stein and Michael Leventhal published a series of 7 patients presenting the triad of amenorrhea + hirsutism + enlarged ovaries. These ovaries appeared enlarged and dotted with small structures that medicine of the time referred to as 'cysts', a term already used since the 19th century.
Thus, the name ‘PCOS’ is scientifically inaccurate, since we have known for years that it does not refer to cysts in the medical sense of the term.
These are actually immature ovarian follicles that accumulate because ovulation does not occur properly. A cyst, in medicine, is an abnormal cavity filled with liquid that can be pathological. The follicles involved in PCOS are physiologically normal structures present in abnormal quantity or with altered dynamics.
However, the name focuses on the ovaries even though PCOS / SMOB condition is systemic, this syndrome involves several systems:
- The endocrine system (hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance)
- The metabolic system (increased risk of type 2 diabetes)
- The skin (acne, hirsutism, female pattern alopecia)
- Mental health (anxiety, depression, eating disorders)
- The reproductive system (anovulation, infertility)
The concrete consequences of a bad name
One might think that the name is unimportant, but a few observations lead us to the opposite conclusion. For example:
- 70% of people with the condition are undiagnosed, according to the WHO. Part of this under-recognition is attributed to the name itself.
- This syndrome is a metabolic condition that persists long after our reproductive years, which is why it is important not to restrict it solely to the gynecological aspect.
- For one in three women, the diagnosis takes more than two years after the first symptoms, and they need to consult 3 professionals or more. This shows that this syndrome is still poorly understood, and the name may have influenced the situation.
- The research itself is impacted: if a disease is labeled as gynecological, it receives less funding for metabolic, cardiovascular, or psychiatric research. Yet, it is also in these areas that women need answers.
What does not change
The diagnostic criteria remain the same: those from Rotterdam 2003, confirmed by the 2023 international guidelines. Diagnosis is made if at least 2 of these criteria are present: (1) clinical/biochemical hyperandrogenism, (2) ovulatory dysfunction, and (3) polycystic ovarian morphology on pelvic ultrasound or elevated AMH levels. In adolescents, hyperandrogenism + ovulatory dysfunction (i.e., criteria 1 and 2) are required, and neither ultrasound nor AMH are recommended due to their low specificity at this age.
The condition has not changed, it's just its name. The pathophysiological mechanisms, treatments, and lifestyle recommendations remain unchanged. If you were taking metformin or inositol for your PCOS, these treatments continue (to be discussed with your doctor). If you were following a low-GI diet, it remains relevant.
Why this new name?
"Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome": these terms may seem unfriendly or simply completely abstract, why this choice?
The name allows for:
- Reflect the hormonal multiplicity of the condition (poly-endocrine)
- Recognize the central metabolic dimension (insulin resistance, diabetes risk)
- Preserve the ovarian dimension to avoid losing continuity with the existing medical identity
- Avoid the stigma associated with the word "cyst"
What this means for you if you live with PCOS
Concretely:
- The term PCOS will continue to coexist in common language for a long time. Even after the transition, which will last 3 years.
- You can take advantage of this change to reassess your care. If your current medical follow-up corresponds to an annual gynecological check-up without a metabolic assessment, this may be the time to review things with your doctor (glycemic assessment? lipid assessment? TSH? HOMA-IR?). The PMOS advocates for a multisystem approach.
To go further
The foundational article on the name change:
Teede H, Khomami M, Morman R et al.
The Lancet, 2026; 0
The 2023 reference clinical guidelines:
Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven JJE, Dokras A, Moran LJ, Piltonen TT, Costello MF, Boivin J, Redman LM, Boyle JA, Norman RJ, Mousa A, Joham AE. Recommendations From the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Sep 18;108(10):2447-2469. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgad463. PMID: 37580314; PMCID: PMC10505534.
With Niki, naturally guide your PCOS through smoothly transitioning your habits. All activities are supported by scientific research for their effectiveness in PCOS management, including:
- Low GI Diet
- Anti-inflammatory diet
- Physical activity
- Stress management
- Suitable environment
- Proteins
- Sleep
- Sovereignty (nibbling and hunger)
