POLYCYSTIC ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), a change that better explains the condition that affects one in eight women, and which could improve care for millions of women.

The term PCOS was inaccurate, researchers say, and implied a condition of pathological ovarian cysts, obscuring the diverse endocrine and metabolic features, and contributing to delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, and stigma, while curtailing research and policy framing.

The Lancet journal, which explained the specific science behind the name change, said building on an international mandate for change, there was an unprecedented, rigorous, and multi-step global consensus process for the name change.

Funding and governance were established with engagement of 56 leading academic, clinical and patient organisations, it said. Using iterative global surveys — with responses from 14,360 women and girls with the condition, and multidisciplinary health professionals from all world regions — an accurate new name was prioritised over retaining the PCOS acronym or a generic name.

“Accuracy was improved by omitting the word ‘cysts’ and by capturing endocrine, metabolic, and ovarian dysfunction. A co-designed global implementation strategy, including a transition period, education, and alignment with health systems and disease classification is under way,” the writers at The Lancet said.

The condition affects 170 million women worldwide during their reproductive years alone. It has long been primarily perceived as a gynaecological or ovarian disorder; however, mounting research and international guidelines have shown that what was called PCOS was underpinned by endocrine disturbances in insulin, androgens, and neuroendocrine and ovarian hormones.

Features of the disorder can be metabolic, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnoea; reproductive, including ovulatory disturbances, irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, pregnancy complications, and endometrial cancer; psychological, including depression, anxiety, poor quality of life, and eating disorders; and dermatological, including acne, alopecia, and hirsutism. Body mass index is generally higher in PCOS patients, and overall, it presented a growing health and economic burden.

The fact that the broad clinical features of the condition were not captured in its current name, meant delayed diagnosis for some, with up to 70 per cent of affected individuals remaining undiagnosed, and also contributing to widespread knowledge gaps and patient dissatisfaction.