Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process

@article{teede2026polyendocrine,
  title = {{Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process}},
  author = {Helena Jane Teede and Mahnaz Bahri Khomami and Rachel Morman and Joop S.E. Laven and Anju Elizabeth Joham and Michael Costello and Madhuri Patil and D Aled Rees and Lorna Berry and Melanie G. Cree and Han Zhao and Robert J Norman and Anuja Dokras and Terhi Piltonen and Seyi Amao and Mina Amiri and Caroline Andrews and Andrea Arcari and Wiebke Arlt and Ricardo Azziz and Jean‐Patrice Baillargeon and Adam Balen Md Frcog and Jamie Laura Benham and Jack Biko and Christophe Blockeel and Tom Bourne and Ann Helen Brendehaug and Maureen Busby and Rebecca E. Campbell and Yashi Carrington and Camille Casi and Zi-Jiang Chen and Nicolás Crisosto and Pegah Farzam and Stephen Franks and Caroline D. T. Gillett and Angela Grassi and Miyuki Harada and Emelyne Heluin and Kathleen M. Hoeger and Dawnkimberly Hopkins and Heather Gibson Huddleston and Takeshi Iwasa and Suvarna Khadilkar and Natasha N. Kumar and Sabra Lane and Shruthi Mahalingaiah and Robin Maskey and Edgar V. Mocanu and Jospin Mutonkole Lunda and Nicholas Beng Hui Ng and Anuoluwapo Omotara Odutayo and Sasha Ottey and Michael O’Reilly and Malika Patel and Alexia Pena and Megan A. Peppenelli and Nicholas Raine‐Fenning and Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani and Iolanda S. Rodino},
  journal = {The Lancet},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.1016/s0140-6736(26)00717-8},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(26)00717-8},
  note = {CC BY},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process
AU  - Helena Jane Teede
AU  - Mahnaz Bahri Khomami
AU  - Rachel Morman
AU  - Joop S.E. Laven
AU  - Anju Elizabeth Joham
AU  - Michael Costello
AU  - Madhuri Patil
AU  - D Aled Rees
AU  - Lorna Berry
AU  - Melanie G. Cree
AU  - Han Zhao
AU  - Robert J Norman
AU  - Anuja Dokras
AU  - Terhi Piltonen
AU  - Seyi Amao
AU  - Mina Amiri
AU  - Caroline Andrews
AU  - Andrea Arcari
AU  - Wiebke Arlt
AU  - Ricardo Azziz
AU  - Jean‐Patrice Baillargeon
AU  - Adam Balen Md Frcog
AU  - Jamie Laura Benham
AU  - Jack Biko
AU  - Christophe Blockeel
AU  - Tom Bourne
AU  - Ann Helen Brendehaug
AU  - Maureen Busby
AU  - Rebecca E. Campbell
AU  - Yashi Carrington
AU  - Camille Casi
AU  - Zi-Jiang Chen
AU  - Nicolás Crisosto
AU  - Pegah Farzam
AU  - Stephen Franks
AU  - Caroline D. T. Gillett
AU  - Angela Grassi
AU  - Miyuki Harada
AU  - Emelyne Heluin
AU  - Kathleen M. Hoeger
AU  - Dawnkimberly Hopkins
AU  - Heather Gibson Huddleston
AU  - Takeshi Iwasa
AU  - Suvarna Khadilkar
AU  - Natasha N. Kumar
AU  - Sabra Lane
AU  - Shruthi Mahalingaiah
AU  - Robin Maskey
AU  - Edgar V. Mocanu
AU  - Jospin Mutonkole Lunda
AU  - Nicholas Beng Hui Ng
AU  - Anuoluwapo Omotara Odutayo
AU  - Sasha Ottey
AU  - Michael O’Reilly
AU  - Malika Patel
AU  - Alexia Pena
AU  - Megan A. Peppenelli
AU  - Nicholas Raine‐Fenning
AU  - Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani
AU  - Iolanda S. Rodino
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/12
JO  - The Lancet
DO  - 10.1016/s0140-6736(26)00717-8
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(26)00717-8
AB  - Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), previously named polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), affects one in eight women. However, the term PCOS is inaccurate, implying pathological ovarian cysts, obscuring diverse endocrine and metabolic features, and contributing to delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, and stigma, while curtailing research and policy framing. Building on an international mandate for change, we outline an unprecedented, rigorous, multistep global consensus process for the name change. Funding and governance were established with engagement of 56 leading academic, clinical, and patient organisations. Using iterative global surveys (with responses from 14 360 people with PCOS and multidisciplinary health professionals from all world regions), modified Delphi methods, nominal group technique workshops, and marketing and implementation analyses, we identified principles prioritising scientific accuracy, clarity, stigma avoidance, cultural appropriateness, and implementation feasibility. An accurate new name was prioritised over retaining the PCOS acronym or a generic name. Implementation approaches prioritised evolution rather than transformation. Preferred terms were polyendocrine, metabolic, and ovarian, reflecting the condition's multisystem pathophysiology, and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome was the consensus new name. Accuracy was improved by omitting cysts and by capturing endocrine, metabolic, and ovarian dysfunction. A co-designed global implementation strategy, including a transition period, education, and alignment with health systems and disease classification, is under way.
SN  - 0099-5355
SN  - 0140-6736
SN  - 1474-547X
ER  -