PCOS gets a new name

(ABC News) A condition that impacts millions of women is getting a new name.

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, a reproductive hormone imbalance, will now be known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS for short.

A global consensus calling for the name change was published Tuesday in The Lancet, based on input from more than 50 leading academic, clinical, and patient organizations, along with feedback from more than 14,000 women with the condition.

Experts say the old name was misleading, since it suggests ovarian cysts are the main issue when they are not actually a defining feature.

PMOS is a condition that affects hormones, metabolism, and ovary function, often leading to irregular periods, excess androgen levels, and increased risk of conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

Research suggests this disease occurs at similar rates across racial groups, but Black and Hispanic women are more likely to have more severe metabolic complications and are less likely to be diagnosed early.

There is no single way to diagnose PMOS, according to the Office on Women’s Health. In addition to blood work, doctors rely on physical exams, pelvic exams, pelvic ultrasounds and a patient’s medical history.

Often, other conditions are ruled out and then a doctor diagnoses PMOS if a patient meets two of these symptoms: irregular periods, signs of high levels of androgens (like acne and extra hair growth), multiple cysts on one or both ovaries or higher than normal blood levels of androgens, according to the Office on Women’s Health.

There is also no cure for PMOS, so patients often rely on a combination of treatments to manage their symptoms, including medication and weight loss.