A disease’s name can have a significant influence on its diagnosis and treatment – or lack thereof. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. For decades, doctors thought the condition mostly affected the ovaries, but its misleading name has left many people undiagnosed and at risk of developing several related chronic conditions at a young age.

In a study published on May 12, 2026, in the medical journal The Lancet, an international team of researchers and health professionals formally announced the renaming of the condition to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. Dr. Melanie Cree, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz, was part of the team behind the renaming.

The Conversation asked Dr. Cree to guide readers through this decade-long renaming process and explain what this renaming means for the future of PMOS care.

Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS, is a condition that affects many parts of the body – hormones, metabolism, mental health, skin and the reproductive system. The signs and symptoms of this complex condition often start in the teenage years and continue after menopause.

PMOS affects approximately 1 in 8 women globally, amounting to over 170 million women worldwide. However, it is estimated that 70% of women with PMOS may not know they have this condition.

Most people with PMOS have higher insulin levels than those........

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