What’s in a name? Understanding the change from PCOS to PMOS

Dr Williams is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and Trainee Health Psychologist. Her research focuses on women’s health, with over a decade of experience exploring the impact of PCOS on quality of life and psychological outcomes for people living with the condition.

For the millions of people living with PCOS, the recent announcement of a name change may have come as a surprise. While this may feel sudden, discussions about changing the name have been taking place in academic and healthcare circles for more than a decade. In fact, this is not the first time the condition has been renamed.

A condition with a long history

While some argue that the condition has roots as early as 1844, many researchers credit Irving Stein and Michael Leventhal for describing the condition as we understand it today. For many years, it was known as “Stein–Leventhal Syndrome”, alongside terms such as “polycystic ovaries” and “polycystic ovarian disease”.

By the 1980s, researchers had developed a greater understanding of the condition’s metabolic features, including links with insulin resistance and weight changes. Over time, the term PCOS became more widely used before being formally adopted in diagnostic guidelines during the 1990s.

Fast forward to 2026, and the condition has evolved again with the introduction of Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS).

Why has the name changed?

The new name reflects a better understanding of the condition and its symptoms.

One of the biggest reasons for the change is that the “cysts” referred to in PCOS are not actually ovarian cysts. Instead, they are arrested follicles – follicles that begin to develop but stop before releasing an egg.

This has caused confusion among healthcare professionals and patients for many years, as you do not need to have “cysts” (arrested follicles) to receive a diagnosis of PCOS.

So, the new name retains familiar elements such as ‘poly’, ‘ovarian’, and ‘syndrome’, but the inclusion of ‘endocrine’ and ‘metabolic’ highlights the full spectrum of symptoms people can experience with the condition, while recognising that this is not solely a reproductive condition.

Are cysts no longer linked to the condition?

Not entirely – it is important to keep in mind that the term “polycystic ovaries” never referred to ‘true’ cysts.

For many years, healthcare professionals and academics have used this term to describe the “string of pearls” appearance seen on ultrasound. However, these are not the same as ovarian cysts.

People can still have arrested follicles as part of PMOS, but they are only one of several diagnostic features. It is also possible to have ovarian cysts as a separate condition altogether.

In short, the new name is intended to reduce confusion rather than change the condition itself.

What happens next?

For many people, the name change may raise questions or feel unsettling, particularly if they were told they had ‘cysts’ on their ovaries by a trusted healthcare professional. This is completely understandable. In practice, however, things are unlikely to change overnight.

If you visit your GP, they may still use the term PCOS, particularly as the new terminology becomes more widely adopted. At the time of writing, the NHS website refers to ‘PCOS’ and ‘Polycystic Ovaries’, which is a key resource individuals may engage with if they want to learn more about the condition.

Researchers, charities, and healthcare organisations – including Verity, the UK PMOS charity – have contributed to years of consultation and international discussion leading up to the decision. Over the next few years, it is likely that both terms will be used by academics and healthcare professionals.

At the University of Derby, as part of the PMOS research team, we intend to do all we can to support the name change. The identification of the metabolic and endocrine elements of the conditions reflects our current research, which explores the biomarkers of the condition and any associated psychological impacts.

There is hope that this name change, alongside updated NICE guidelines and the renewed Women’s Health Strategy, will help improve awareness, research, funding, and support for individuals living with PMOS. At the University of Derby, we will use both terms while petitioning for key resources to update their materials in line with the recommended implementation plan.

If you are looking for more information or support, organisations such as Verity can provide trusted guidance and resources.

Learn more about research into PMOS at the University of Derby here.

For further information contact the press office at pressoffice@derby.ac.uk.