Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

In this picture taken on September 24, 2008 pregnant women visit a Manila clinic for check up. A bill seeking to impose population control in the Philippines is a waste of valuable resources that would be better ploughed into education and infrastructure, a conservative think-tank said October 2, 2008. The Philippines has among the highest birth rates in Asia, with the population growing at around two percent annually and expected to top 100 million in five years. AFP PHOTO/ROMEO GACAD / AFP PHOTO / ROMEO GACAD

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MANILA — One of the world’s most common hormonal disorders affecting women has officially been renamed, in a move experts say could reshape how the condition is understood, diagnosed, and treated.Polycystic ovary syndrome, more commonly known as PCOS, will now be called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome or PMOS, following an international consensus published in the medical <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00717-8/fulltext">journal</a> The Lancet.The change comes after years of criticism from doctors and patients who argued that the term “PCOS” failed to capture the full scope of the condition, which extends beyond the ovaries and reproductive system.“Consensus for the new name was built by use of robust, transparent methods, including modified Delphi survey processes, nominal group technique workshops, and implementation and marketing analyses,” The Lancet said.Experts say the old name often led to confusion because many women diagnosed with PCOS do not actually have ovarian cysts.The study showed that the term “polycystic ovary” implies the presence of pathological ovarian cysts, which are not a feature of the condition, further contributing to misunderstandings among patients, clinicians, policy makers and the public.Instead, the condition is increasingly recognized as a complex hormonal and metabolic disorder linked to insulin resistance, obesity, infertility, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression.The new terminology, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, was chosen to better reflect the condition’s endocrine and metabolic components.The renaming effort followed a 14-year consultation involving medical experts, researchers, and patient advocacy groups worldwide.Studies estimate that the condition affects around one in eight women globally, making it one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age.<div>‘PCOS’ contributing delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment</div>Health advocates say the previous name contributed to delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment, with many patients reporting years of symptoms before receiving proper medical attention.Symptoms can include irregular menstruation, acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, fertility problems, and fatigue.Research has also shown that women with the condition face higher risks of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease due to insulin resistance.Despite the renaming, experts clarified that existing diagnostic guidelines and treatment approaches will largely remain the same for now.Medical organizations worldwide are expected to gradually adopt the term PMOS over the next few years.

One of the world’s most common hormonal disorders affecting women has officially been renamed, in a move experts say could reshape how the condition is understood, diagnosed, and treated.

One of the world’s most common hormonal disorders affecting women has officially been renamed, in a move experts say could reshape how the condition is understood, diagnosed, and treated.

PCOS renamed to PMOS in move experts say could improve women’s healthcare

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PCOS renamed to PMOS in move experts say could improve women’s healthcare

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 19, 2026 05:18 PM PHT

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PCOS

PMOS

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