First, it was named after two men. Then, it was named for a false premise.
At last, after more than a century, one of the most prevalent hormone disorders in the world has a title that is no longer inaccurate, misleading, or outdated.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) should now be known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), according to a global science consortium.
The new name was announced this week at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague, after 14 years of collaboration between healthcare experts, patients, and advocates.
"The term polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has long been recognized as inaccurate and potentially harmful," write the team behind the initiative, led by Verity, a UK-based charity, Australia's Monash University, and the international organization Androgen Excess and PCOS Society.
