[5 min read]
In this article:
- According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age in the U.S.
- PCOS has been linked to diabetes, hypertension and endometrial cancer.
- Thanks to an unprecedented collaboration among an international collective of 56 academic, patient and clinical organizations, PCOS is now called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS.
- A Providence Swedish OB/GYN explains how this new name reflects the realities of condition and why it will help clinicians work more effectively with their patients.
For years, you may have struggled with irregular periods, significant weight fluctuations, bone-deep fatigue and even long-term fertility issues without receiving a clear explanation or diagnosis of your symptoms. You may have been told that it’s stress or that you aren’t resting enough. Or that your symptoms are hormonal and absolutely normal. This has been the experience many women living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition affecting approximately one in eight or 10% to 13% of women worldwide.
“There are many criteria out there, but the most commonly accepted one is the Rotterdam criteria,” says Vijaytha Rathnam, M.D., an OB/GYN at Swedish Edmonds. “It has three kind of main points to [diagnose teh condition]: oligomenorrhea, meaning like irregular or very spaced-out periods; biochemical or clinical signs of high testosterone, which can account for hirsutism or acne; and ultrasound findings from the ovaries.”
A victory for patients, physicians and advocates
For some time, the term PCOS — with its focus on the ovaries as the condition’s main cause — was criticized as inaccurate, stigmatizing and significant contributor to delayed diagnosis and treatment. In June, the medical journal The Lancet announced a new name for PCOS: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The change is the result of an extraordinary 14-year collaboration by an international collective of 56 academic, patient and clinical organizations that undertook the monumental task of analyzing of 14,360 surveys from people with PCOS and health professionals from around the world followed by surveying, consensus-building and implementation planning.
Patients and clinicians characterized the adoption of the name PMOS as a significant win and advance for patient care. There was wide agreement that the term PCOS disregarded significant hormonal and whole-body aspects of the condition.
Advocacy groups say the new name will foster a more holistic approach that validates patients, improves communication with care teams and supports efforts to reduce diagnostic delays. Physicians hailed the change’s alignment with current science and its emphasis on improved accuracy and understanding of PMOS. The hope is that this new name will translate to better communication with patients new models of comprehensive care, though there was broad agreement that a name change alone is not enough to reduce care gaps.
“I’m so excited about this because PMOS puts the focus on metabolic health. The fact that it’s a syndrome means that it’s a constellation of symptoms,” Dr. Rathnam says. “It reflects that we have to look at a patient’s whole history: eating and exercise; whether or not they’re on birth control pills; and if they’ve had major life changes that might affect their metabolic health, because ultimately it’s about metabolic health and how that affects your hormones, not simply whether or not you have cystic ovaries.”
A first step toward the right care
Changing PCOS to PMOS can’t erase the years many patients spent searching for answers. But supporters call the new name an important step toward something many patients have sought for years: understanding. The long-term hope is that the new name is the first step in helping a teenager struggling with irregular periods or a woman seeking answers about infertility feel seen, understood and taken seriously from the start. PMOS is more than updated medical terminology. It’s a shift toward understanding the full impact of the condition and delivering the care patients need and deserve.
“What’s so helpful is that this change acknowledges that it’s ultimately about insulin resistance, and that takes time to correct,” Dr. Rathnam says. “It’s not overnight, it’s about small goals like starting to build more muscle because muscle changes insulin resistance or avoiding the trap of the scale or talking about birth control pills to help regulate periods. So it’s a very long conversation, involving small goals and addressing the underlying symptoms that are affected by metabolic health.”
Learn more and find a physician or advanced practice clinician (APC)
If you need a gynecologist, women's health specialist or primary care doctor, Swedish is here for you. Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Contact Swedish Primary Care to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider. You can also connect virtually with your provider to review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. And with Swedish ExpressCare Virtual you can receive treatment in minutes for common conditions such as colds, flu, urinary tract infections, and more. You can use our provider directory to find a specialist or primary care physician near you.
Information for patients and visitors
Additional resources
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This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
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