A disease's name can have a significant influence on its diagnosis and treatment—or lack thereof. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. For decades, doctors thought the condition mostly affected the ovaries, but its misleading name has left many people undiagnosed and at risk of developing several related chronic conditions at a young age.
In a study published in The Lancet, an international team of researchers and health professionals formally announced the renaming of the condition to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. Dr. Melanie Cree, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz, was part of the team behind the renaming.
The Conversation asked Dr. Cree to guide readers through this decade-long renaming process and explain what this renaming means for the future of PMOS care.
Renaming PCOS to PMOS was a global effort.
What is PMOS?
