PCOS Has a New Name: What the new PMOS Terminology Means for You
If you have PCOS, you may have stumbled across news of the conditions recent rebrand, with a brand new name for the condition: Polyendocrine Metabolic Syndrome, or PMOS. This was announced in May 2026, alongside the release of the landmark journal article in The Lancet, discussing the reasoning and rationale behind the updated name.
But, why the name change, and what does this mean for our naturopathic understanding and treatment of PMOS?
Why has PCOS Been Renamed PMOS?
The term “polycystic ovary syndrome” has been used for decades, but it has always been somewhat of a misnomer for the condition, and has led to confusion around what is and isn’t part of the syndrome, as well as how it should be treated. There are two major issues with the old name:
PCOS (aka polycystic ovary syndrome) is not ovarian cysts
PCOS as a condition doesn’t only affect the ovaries
PCOS is not Ovarian Cysts
For starters, PCOS isn’t a condition that only affects the ovaries, and it also doesn’t actually involve ovarian cysts (that’s a separate condition altogether!). Some women with PCOS have an increased number of small ovarian follicles visible on ultrasound, sometimes described as "polycystic" ovaries. But these are not the same thing as pathological ovarian cysts.
And, importantly, you can have PCOS without having this “cystic” appearance on your ovaries.
PCOS Doesn’t Only Affect Ovaries
PCOS doesn’t affect your ovaries alone. It is a complex condition involving several interconnected systems, including reproductive hormones, metabolism and ovarian function. It can affect menstrual cycles, ovulation, fertility, skin and hair, metabolic health, mood, sleep and long-term health. In essence, it is a whole-body condition that can affect your health in a myriad of ways.
The new name — polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome — is intended to better reflect this broader picture. The change in name followed an extensive international consensus process involving healthcare professionals, researchers and people with lived experience of PCOS.
The new terminology was formally introduced in May 2026, with a transition period expected while healthcare systems, research, medical resources and patient information catch up.
So, What Does PMOS Actually Mean?
Let’s take a look at the new name and what it all means.
Polyendocrine
“Endocrine” refers to hormones, glands and systems in the body that transport hormones throughout the body and are involved in hormonal regulation. Polyendocrine makes it clear that PMOS is about more than just sex hormones, or more than just “high testosterone”. There are many different hormones and hormonal regulation systems that are impacted by PMOS, including testosterone and other androgens, oestrogen, AMH, and insulin. The hormone signalling pathways affected are not confined to the ovaries alone, but have impacts throughout the body, which is why symptoms can be so different between individuals.
Metabolic
Adding the word “metabolic” into the condition’s name highlights a significant aspect of the condition that has previously been overlooked: PMOS is a multi-system condition that affects more than just ovaries and fertility, and has a significant metabolic aspect to it that has far-reaching health implications. Having PMOS means an increased risk of many different metabolic issues, including insulin dysregulation, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and changes in body composition.
This doesn’t mean every person with PMOS has or will have these health issues, It also doesn't mean that your body size determines whether your condition is well managed. Metabolic health is about much more than just body size.
Ovarian
PMOS can affect ovulation, menstrual cycles and reproductive function, which is why irregular cycles and fertility difficulties can be important features. But the ovaries are one part of the picture rather than the whole picture.
Syndrome
“Syndrome” reflects the fact that PMOS is a constellation of interconnected signs and symptoms that frequently appear together, rather than a single presentation. This is why the way people with PMOS experience the condition can be so different between two individuals. Where one person might have acne and heavy periods, another might have weight gain and hair growth, but no acne. There is no one single PMOS symptoms picture, and this is why the naturopathic approach to PMOS treatment is so individualised.
Does the PMOS Name Change Mean the Diagnostic Criteria Have Changed, Too?
In short, no. The internationally recognised diagnostic framework was updated back in 2023, before the terminology officially changed.
For adults, diagnosis generally involves having two out of three key features, after other possible causes have been excluded:
Ovulatory dysfunction (such as irregular or absent menstrual cycles)
Clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism (E.G. excess facial/body hair, acne or elevated androgen levels on blood tests)
Polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound (or AMH levels can be used as an alternative to ultrasound)
If you're unsure whether your symptoms fit PMOS, it's worth discussing your individual history with your GP or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional rather than trying to diagnose yourself based on a symptom checklist.
The Biggest Takeaway from the PCOS to PMOS Name Change
The most valuable part of this change isn’t the new acronym, but rather, the recognition that PMOS is far more than just an ovarian or fertility issue. Anyone who has been diagnosed with PCOS and then been simply handed an oral contraceptive prescription, or told to “come back when you’re ready for IVF”, will understand the frustration at not being properly heard or understood when explaining how the condition affects so many parts of your daily wellbeing.
This name change acknowledges something naturopaths have been saying for years: that this is a whole-body condition that deserves a whole-person approach to treatment.
About the Author
Lizzie Stow is a clinical naturopath from Newcastle, Australia.
To find out more about Lizzie, click here.
Book an appointment with Lizzie here.
References
Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven JJE, Dokras A, Moran LJ, Piltonen TT, Costello MF, Boivin J, Redman LM, Boyle JA, Norman RJ, Mousa A, Joham AE. Recommendations From the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Sep 18;108(10):2447-2469. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgad463. PMID: 37580314; PMCID: PMC10505534.
Teede H, Khomami M, Morman R et al. Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process. The Lancet, 2026; 407, 2329-2339