In May of 2026, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was renamed to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS)—and we applaud the change. You might not think a name change is that important, but the PCOS moniker was limiting, both to doctors and patients dealing with the diagnosis. Specifically, PCOS is immediately linked to cysts, but not all ovarian cysts are PCOS-related, and, importantly, the condition affects a lot more than just the ovarian environment. “The term PCOS is inaccurate, implying pathological ovarian cysts, obscuring diverse endocrine and metabolic features, and contributing to delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, and stigma, while curtailing research and policy framing.” DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00717-8 PMOS (formerly PCOS) is linked to: Hormone health Metabolism and insulin resistance Heart health Skin issues and hair growth Mental health Reproductive health Shop Now It’s not just that your period is “off,” it’s a whole-body health condition related to many systems and resulting in many symptoms, from irregular periods and (yes, sometimes but not always) cysts, to insulin-resistance, to infertility (it’s the leading cause). The change comes after consultation with leading health professionals from around the world and global surveys, leading to the new name, which better captures the breadth of the condition. How to Balance Hormones (and What Does That Mean, Exactly?) Read More The goal of a new name is to better represent the condition itself, but also to support patients, research, and clinical care. The goals are: To align the name with the condition Enhance awareness Faster diagnosis Better quality care and patient experiences More research Strengthening policy, advocacy Improving global health outcomes Shop Now What hasn’t changed? The criteria for a PMOS diagnosis—yet The diagnostic criteria for PMOS (formerly PCOS) is still the Rotterdam Criteria, and a diagnosis still needs to include 2 of 3 criteria: Irregular or absent periods Infrequent, absent, or irregular ovulation Hyperandrogenism (high levels of male hormones, called androgens) That third point can be confirmed by either biochemical signs (blood tests showing high levels of those hormones or ultrasound images showing enlagred ovaries or cysts) or clinical signs (like excess hair or severe acne). We expect it will take some time for the new name to catch on—but for us, we’ll be using PMOS moving forward. It’s clear that polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome has diverse features that affects a wide range of bodily systems, including reproductive health, that deserve a better standard of care. We have hopes that this will help. Reviewed by: Dr. Tracy Malone, ND Dr. Tracy Malone has a special interest in metabolism, genes, and diet in the fertility space, thanks to her own PCOS fertility journey. She is the co-founder of Conceive Health and Bird&Be's director of nutraceuticals. Products You May Be Interested In Shop Now Shop Now Shop Now Shop Now Shop Now You May Also Like What Does Inositol Do for PCOS? Read more How to Treat PCOS Naturally Read more What is PCOS? Read more
