Medical professionals have officially changed the name of a widespread women’s health condition that impacts one out of every eight women globally, hoping the new terminology will lead to better patient care and understanding.
What was previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) will now be called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), according to research published Tuesday in The Lancet medical journal.
Medical experts and patient advocates pushed for this change because they believed the former name was misleading. The previous terminology oversimplified what is actually a complicated hormonal disorder by emphasizing ovarian cysts and focusing too heavily on reproductive organs, which led to diagnostic errors and substandard treatment, according to the Endocrine Society, an international organization of medical professionals and researchers.
“The thought behind that is that one, there’s no cysts in the ovary, so it’s very confusing,” explained Dr. Melanie Cree, who co-authored the Lancet study and works as a pediatric endocrinology specialist at the University of Colorado Anschutz. “The hope was that with a more comprehensive and accurate name change, that it would start to enable and push better care.”
This terminology update comes after 14 years of collaborative work between medical professionals and patients.
The disorder involves hormone imbalances that can impact body weight, metabolism, mental wellness, reproductive health, and skin conditions.
Medical professionals link it to metabolic syndrome, which encompasses several health issues that raise the likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, noted Dr. Sarah Hutto from the University of Minnesota Medical School in a university publication.
The exact cause remains unknown, though medical research suggests genetic factors and obesity may contribute, according to Cleveland Clinic information.
The wide range of symptoms makes diagnosis challenging for healthcare providers.
The condition typically involves unpredictable menstrual periods and overproduction of androgens, a hormone group that can trigger acne and changes in hair growth or loss. It may also lead to follicle development on ovaries, though these are not abnormal cysts. However, patients don’t need to exhibit all these signs for a diagnosis.
For teenage patients, Cree explained that diagnosis requires both menstrual irregularities and evidence of elevated androgen levels. This evidence can include elevated hormone levels in blood tests or physical symptoms like severe acne or unusual hair growth patterns.
Medical experts at Cleveland Clinic identify it as the leading cause of female fertility issues, since infrequent ovulation can prevent conception.
Women with this condition may face higher risks for pregnancy-related complications, including gestational diabetes or early delivery. However, most individuals with the disorder can successfully complete pregnancies.
Cree emphasizes that the primary treatment approach involves lifestyle modifications, including reducing processed food consumption, increasing physical activity, and maintaining healthy sleep patterns.
“We’re not trying to be judgmental. There is science to back this up,” she stated. “So in PMOS, there is too much of the hormone insulin in many women, and that insulin confuses the ovary to make too much testosterone. And it’s the high testosterone that is causing all the symptoms.”
Additional treatment options include medications that improve insulin sensitivity like Metformin, drugs that counteract androgens, and hormonal contraceptives.
Hutto emphasizes that treatment plans should be customized to target individual symptoms and patient goals. Women planning pregnancies might prioritize fertility treatments, while others may prefer options like hormonal birth control.
Medical professionals are informing their colleagues about the name change through conferences, professional organizations, and other communication channels. They anticipate this will increase understanding of the condition and improve patient care.
“I’m very excited about the name change,” Cree commented, “as are the majority of my colleagues.”
