PCOS Has a New Name: What to Know About PMOS

You might have heard the news: PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) has a new name! On May 12, 2026, an international panel of experts, researchers, healthcare professionals, and patients announced that PCOS would officially be renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). 

The name PMOS better reflects the condition’s wide-ranging effects on hormonal, metabolic, reproductive, and overall health. However, while the name is new, the condition and its effects are still the same. Let’s discuss what this new name means, why it changed, and how to support your health if you have PMOS, no matter what you call it.  

What is polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS)?

Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formally known as PCOS, is a complex condition related to your body’s hormonal and metabolic systems. 

The previous name, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), made ovarian cysts the main focus of this condition…even though the “cysts” are actually follicles, and usually not clinically significant. In reality, PMOS is associated with a lot of different health concerns, including irregular menstrual periods, fertility challenges, impaired blood sugar regulation, and chronic pain. 

Regardless of what it’s called, PMOS is the most common hormonal disorder among reproductive-aged women and folks assigned female at birth. Diagnosing PMOS can be tricky, and it affects anywhere between 5% and 26% of women worldwide. 

What does PMOS stand for?

PMOS stands for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome. This new name is a mouthful and can be difficult to understand! Let’s break down what each term means.

• Polyendocrine: “Poly” means “many”, and endocrine refers to the parts of your body that create and release hormones (mainly tissues and glands). Together, polyendocrine means that this condition deals with multiple hormonal systems, including sex hormones, insulin, and ovarian hormones.
• Metabolic: Metabolic is the most obvious part of the name change, and for good reason. PMOS isn’t just an ovarian condition; it’s a chronic metabolic disorder. PMOS is associated with insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease…all of which can be looked after and managed.
• Ovarian: Keeping the word “ovarian” in the name acknowledges that your ovaries are still a major player in this condition…even though they're just one part of the body's complex hormonal and reproductive system! Whether you choose to reproduce or not, PMOS can affect the function of your entire reproductive system, including ovulation, fertility, and menstrual cycle regularity.
• Syndrome: Using the word “syndrome” shows that PMOS is a group of health-related signs and symptoms, not a clear-cut disease. 

Taken together, the name PMOS more accurately defines this condition than its previous name, PCOS, and reflects how broadly it can affect the overall health and well-being of people with the syndrome. 

PCOS → PMOS: Why did the name change?

Over the last 11 years, 56 leading academic, clinical, and patient organizations have worked to rename PCOS, alongside input from over 14,000 clinicians and patients with PCOS. These experts have long argued that the term "polycystic ovary syndrome" was misleading. 

The old name didn’t capture the broad range of PMOS signs and symptoms, and made understanding and diagnosing this condition more difficult. The PCOS-to-PMOS change was not a simple rebrand, but a decade-long international scientific effort to develop a name that actually describes this condition.  

How the new name can help with PMOS diagnosis

The name PCOS may have affected how many women received an accurate diagnosis, as up to 70% of people with the condition remain undiagnosed. After all, calling it “polycystic ovary syndrome” certainly makes you think ovarian cysts must be involved! 

However, the ovarian “cysts” associated with PCOS are actually underdeveloped egg follicles. These follicles can affect your ovulation and fertility, but they’re not cysts, and not everyone with PMOS has them.   

Removing the word “cysts” and emphasizing the endocrine and metabolic parts of this condition may encourage healthcare providers to look beyond reproductive symptoms alone…as many people don’t receive a PCOS diagnosis until they’re trying to conceive.

The goal of this name change is to help: 

• Explain that PMOS involves hormonal, metabolic, psychological, and dermatological (skin) symptoms.
• Remove the confusion surrounding this condition’s definition, which may lead to delays in diagnosis. 
• Put patients and healthcare providers on the same page, allowing for better communication and care. 
• Take away the reproductive focus and potential stigma associated with the name “PCOS.”

Changing this condition’s name is not a cure-all. However, language is powerful, and clarity is key. If you’ve already received a diagnosis, your PCOS treatment and care won’t suddenly change; it just has a different name.  

How to tell if you have PCOS, now PMOS

To determine if you have PMOS, your healthcare provider will look for three things: menstrual cycle irregularity, signs of high androgen hormones, and whether your ovaries have a lot of immature follicles (usually 20 or more). These signs can show up in your body in different ways, and the most common signs and symptoms of PMOS include: 

• Acne or oily skin
• Hair thinning or hair loss
• Irregular or skipped periods
• Excess body hair or facial hair growth, called hirsutism
• Weight gain or trouble losing weight, especially around your midsection

Some people with PCOS will have several of these symptoms; others will have just one (and might not even be aware of it!) This list isn’t exhaustive, and it’s not meant to definitively rule PMOS in or out.

If these signs sound familiar, though, reach out to a healthcare provider to discuss your concerns, diagnosis, and treatment options. 

PCOS pain and pelvic health

Chronic pelvic pain and discomfort might not make the list of the most common PMOS symptoms, but that doesn’t mean they’re not very, very real. PMOS can heighten your sensitivity to pain and cause low-grade inflammation, hormonal dysregulation, and oxidative stress, all of which contribute to chronic pain. PMOS pain can look like: 

• Pelvic pain
• Period cramps
• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Bloating 
• Painful sex

Working with a pelvic floor physical therapist can help you manage and alleviate chronic pain symptoms related to PMOS, especially around pelvic pain, painful periods, and painful sex.   

PCOS / PMOS treatment options

Everyone’s experience with PMOS is different, so treatment should be unique to your individual symptoms, goals, and overall health. Fatigue, weight changes, pelvic pain, irregular periods, insulin resistance, anxiety, and acne are all linked to PMOS; taking a holistic approach can help you manage your symptoms and care for your body as a whole. 

Common approaches to treatment include: 

• Lifestyle modifications, including nutritional changes, to support metabolic health
• Hormonal birth control pills for hormonal regulation…not just contraception!
• Regular exercise and strength training
• GLP-1 medications
• Medications such as metformin for those with insulin resistance 
• Physical therapy for pain management and body function 

Can pelvic floor physical therapy help with PMOS? 

Yes! People with PMOS may be more likely to have tight pelvic floor muscles, and a pelvic floor physical therapist can help both strengthen and lengthen those muscles. You can also work with your therapist to break the pain pathway between your brain and your pelvic floor, helping to reduce symptoms such as painful periods, painful sex, and pelvic pain. 

Using the name PMOS instead of PCOS may take some adjustment. However, this name change helps us recognize that this condition affects far more than the ovaries and deserves a broader, more holistic approach to care. If you’re ready to build a PMOS care team that supports your full-body health, our pelvic floor physical therapists are here to help. Reach out to book an appointment with our team today.  

Sources

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