The rename, and what it does not change
Evidence last assessed 2026-08-02.
In short
- What the research shows
- In May 2026 a global consensus renamed the condition; the transition takes three years.
- What it doesn't show
- The new name does not change the condition, its diagnosis or its treatment.
- PMOS
- Tests and appointments
See studies and method
What the evidence says
In May 2026 a global consensus renamed the condition. Nothing about your body changed that month, and a three-year transition means most clinicians, laboratories and other apps will still be using the old name.
A multistep global consensus process, published in The Lancet, renamed polycystic ovary syndrome to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, with a three-year transition supported by an international education campaign. A survey of 7,708 people the year before found 85.6% of patients agreed the name should change, and that patients and professionals alike considered the existing name misleading.
What this does not show
The rename is a naming decision, not a change in the condition, its diagnosis or its treatment. A three-year transition is under way, so expect to keep hearing the old name from your own doctor. The 170 million and up-to-70%-undiagnosed figures are global estimates carried by the consensus material. They are not measured in any one population and they are not a statement about you. And Neta holds the finding and the venue for both sources, not a verified full reference.
Sources, as Neta holds them
Teede HJ, Bahri Khomami M, Morman R, Laven JSE, Joham AE, Costello MF, et al. Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process. Lancet. 2026;407(10545):2329-39. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00717-8
Guideline synthesis · 22,000 participants
Teede HJ, Moran LJ, Morman R, Gibson M, Dokras A, Berry L, et al. Polycystic ovary syndrome perspectives from patients and health professionals on clinical features, current name, and renaming: a longitudinal international online survey. eClinicalMedicine. 2025;84:103287. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103287
People compared with each other · 7,708 participants