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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex hormonal and metabolic disorder that affects the entire body of people with a uterus.
There is no single known cause. Instead, it is believed to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including heredity.
Approximately 1 in 8 women—around 170 million people worldwide—are affected by the condition.
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Symptoms may include:
However, the condition can also affect cardiovascular health and mental well-being.
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For many patients unfamiliar with the condition, its name incorrectly suggests the presence of ovarian cysts, even though this is not necessarily a defining feature of the disorder.
The “cysts” seen on ultrasound scans are not actually cysts. They are immature eggs (follicles) that have not developed properly and therefore create an appearance that resembles cysts.
When the condition was first named in 1935, however, doctors mistakenly believed it was primarily an ovarian disorder. As a result, the name persisted for decades despite advances in scientific understanding.
For many patients unfamiliar with the condition, its name incorrectly suggests the presence of ovarian cysts, even though this is not necessarily a defining feature of the disorder.
The “cysts” seen on ultrasound scans are not actually cysts. They are immature eggs (follicles) that have not developed properly and therefore create an appearance that resembles cysts.
When the condition was first named in 1935, however, doctors mistakenly believed it was primarily an ovarian disorder. As a result, the name persisted for decades despite advances in scientific understanding.
(fyiteam)
After more than a decade of international consultations and the involvement of 56 organizations, the condition’s name has officially been changed, as announced in a publication in the scientific journal The Lancet.
Going forward, it will be known as PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome), reflecting its broader endocrine and metabolic nature.
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Experts believe that the previous name contributed to delayed diagnoses, fragmented care, and social stigma.
With the new terminology, they hope to prevent the endocrine and metabolic aspects of the condition from being overlooked and to move away from portraying it as merely a “gynecological disorder,” when in reality it affects the entire body.
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Additionally, experts hope that the name change will bring greater visibility to the condition, which has remained underdiagnosed for decades.
They also believe it could pave the way for increased research funding—particularly into its metabolic and endocrine effects—as well as support efforts to develop a cure, which has yet to be found.
