PMOS affects 1 in 8 women — more than 170 million people worldwide. Yet for decades, the name Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) focused on “cysts” and ovaries, even though women with the condition do not actually have ovarian cysts. This narrow and misleading terminology obscured the true complexity of the condition as a long-term endocrine/hormonal and metabolic disorder, contributing to delayed diagnosis, poor quality of care, stigma, and a lack of research and funding.

The new name, supported by an international consensus published in The Lancet (2026), better reflects:

Following 14 years of research, advocacy, and the largest global engagement ever for a medical name change including more than 22,000 survey responses, workshops with women with lived experience, healthcare professionals, and 56 patient organizations and professional societies worldwide, including CSEM. 

CSEM joins the global endocrine community in supporting this important step forward.