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In May 2026, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) was officially renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). It is one of the biggest changes in women’s health terminology in decades, and it affects more than 170 million people worldwide. But what do the people actually living with the condition think about it?
We asked our community. In our PCOS to PMOS name change survey, people shared how they feel about the new name, whether they think it will help, and what support they need. Here is what they told us. You can explore every chart on our full PCOS to PMOS survey results page.
The old name suggested the condition was mainly about cysts on the ovaries. In reality, many people with the condition do not have cysts at all, and the condition affects far more than the ovaries. It involves hormones (the endocrine system), metabolism, insulin resistance, weight, skin, mood and long-term heart health, as well as periods and fertility.
The new name was agreed through a global consensus led by the Global Name Change Consortium and published in The Lancet on 12 May 2026. It was shaped by more than 14,000 survey responses from patients and health professionals. Each part of the new name reflects what the condition really involves:
There is a three-year transition period, and international guidelines are expected to formally use PMOS by 2028. During this time you will see both names, often written as PCOS/PMOS.
Our survey asked people about awareness, understanding and support for the name change. Almost everyone who took part (90%) has been diagnosed with PCOS or PMOS, so these are the views of people with lived experience.
That last figure stands out. More than half of respondents feel the old name itself has held back their understanding or their care. This is exactly the problem the new name is meant to solve.
Most people believe the change is a positive step:
However, people are much less sure about stigma. Only 34% believe the name change will reduce stigma, while 41% are not sure. Many feel that a new name is only the first step, and that real change depends on better care and better-informed doctors.
We read every written answer and grouped them by overall tone. 59% were positive, 21% were mixed (hopeful but wary), and 14% were negative.
“It makes it feel seen, like it’s more than just ‘cysts’. The new name helps to highlight that there’s many more issues and struggles.”
Many people described feeling recognised for the first time, because the new name reflects the metabolic and hormonal symptoms they live with every day. Others were cautious:
“I’m cautiously optimistic, though I really hope that this isn’t the only thing that’ll change.”
Some found the new name harder to remember or say, and a few worried that a name change would not change how they are treated by healthcare professionals. These concerns matter, and they show why education needs to go hand in hand with the new terminology.
When asked what the word PMOS makes them think of, the most common answers were metabolism, hormones and the endocrine system, which is exactly what the new name intends. Others saw it as more than a fertility or gynaecology issue.
But some people confused PMOS with other terms, such as premenstrual or menopause-related conditions, and others were simply not sure yet. Understanding of the term scored an average of 6.7 out of 10, lower than support for it. People back the change, but many still need clearer information.
The most requested support, by far, was clear and simple information (41%): leaflets, easy-to-read booklets, visual guides, posters in GP surgeries and trustworthy content on social media. People also asked for:
As one respondent put it, the people who most need to understand PMOS are often the healthcare professionals, not just patients.
If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, nothing about your diagnosis has changed. It is the same condition with a more accurate name. You may hear doctors, charities and websites use PCOS, PMOS or PCOS/PMOS during the transition. Here are a few practical steps:
Our survey is still open, and every response helps us understand what our community needs during this transition. If you have not taken part yet, please share your views in the PCOS to PMOS name change survey. It only takes a few minutes and all answers are anonymous.
See every chart, quote and finding on our PCOS to PMOS survey results page.
Our community strongly supports renaming PCOS to PMOS. Most people want doctors and charities to use the new name, and more than half say the old name affected their understanding or care. But support for the name is ahead of understanding of it, and many people are unsure it will reduce stigma on its own. Clear information, better-trained healthcare professionals and real support after diagnosis are what our community needs next, and that is what PCOS Relief will keep working towards.
Ans: PMOS stands for Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome. It is the new name for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), announced in May 2026.
Ans: No. PMOS is the same condition as PCOS. Only the name has changed, to better reflect the hormonal and metabolic effects of the condition.
Ans: The old name focused on ovarian cysts, which many people with the condition do not have. The new name reflects that it affects several hormone systems and metabolism, as well as the ovaries.
Ans: No. Your existing diagnosis still applies. You may see it recorded as PCOS, PMOS or PCOS/PMOS during the three-year transition period.
Ans: In our survey, support for the change averaged 8 out of 10 and 86% want healthcare professionals to use PMOS. You can read the full survey results here.
About this survey: results come from the PCOS Relief online survey on the PCOS to PMOS name change. All responses are anonymous. Source for the official rename: AJMC, May 2026.
