Polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS, recently received a new name to more accurately reflect the condition.
Announced earlier this year in The Lancet, the condition will now be named polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, also known as PMOS. The decision to rename it was made based on the opinions of over 50 academic, clinical and patient organizations. About 14,000 women affected by the condition also provided input.
The name change came as a result of experts pointing out that PCOS previously suggested that ovarian cysts were the primary causes of the condition. That has since been proven incorrect as it is not a key feature of PMOS.
Now adopted across the world, renaming the condition to PMOS will hopefully erase stigma, provide easier diagnosis and more accurately describe the disorder.
The name change is now reportedly set to occur throughout the next three years.
“This change has global implications for health-care systems, policy, and research, and for advancing understanding and treatment of the condition,” said the organizations involved in the renaming in a study published in The Lancet. “Overall goals include greater awareness, enhanced diagnosis, improved care quality and patient satisfaction, and optimized outcomes across the broad features of the condition.”
PMOS is a common condition that affects women of all demographics. The FDA reports that nearly 1 in 10 women of childbearing age are affected by the condition. Among Black and Hispanic women, it is often underdiagnosed.
When looking at diagnosis among women ages 20 to 49, Black women had the fewest diagnoses, accounting for only 4.4% of cases identified, according to the CDC. Often, their PMOS is missed, even with symptoms. Black women are among the women who have higher odds of being undiagnosed or obtaining a delayed diagnosis, with an odds ratio of 1.69.
Once PMOS is developed amongst Black women, symptoms may be more severe. Black women are often more resistant to insulin, meaning that the pancreas tends to release higher levels of insulin. As a result, the odds of developing type 2 diabetes are also increased.
Symptoms of PMOS vary amongst women. Along with irregular menstrual cycles and fertility issues, the condition is often accompanied by weight gain, acne, thinning hair, increased hair growth on the face and skin tags.
In order to be diagnosed with PMOS, a minimum of two symptoms must be present. These include irregular periods, high androgen levels and multiple cysts on the ovaries.
