For decades, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been one of the most misunderstood women’s health conditions, with many people associating it solely with fertility problems. Yet medical experts say the disorder affects much more than the ovaries.
In a landmark move aimed at better reflecting the condition’s complexity, PCOS has been officially renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).
Like their counterparts around the world, healthcare professionals in Malaysia have also welcomed the name change, saying that it highlights the disorder’s broader hormonal and metabolic implications and could improve public understanding, diagnosis and long-term care.
The name change took effect on May 12, 2026, following a landmark international consensus study published in ‘The Lancet’, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious medical journals.
In the 1930s, when researchers first identified the condition, they named it polycystic ovary syndrome based on the observation that women with the condition had enlarged ovaries filled with small, fluid-filled sacs.
The consensus study found the name to be “inaccurate, implying pathological ovarian cysts, obscuring diverse endocrine and metabolic features, and contributing to delayed diagnosis”.
The condition, which affects one out of eight women or more than 170 million women worldwide, is characterised by fluctuations in hormones, with impacts on weight, metabolic and mental health, skin and the reproductive system.
BETTER UNDERSTANDING
Sunway Medical Centre Velocity consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and fertility specialist Dr Ashley Chung Soo Bee said the name change has helped foster a more holistic approach to managing PMOS patients, shifting the focus beyond fertility issues to encompass overall health monitoring and long-term treatment.
She said the previous term, PCOS, often led to misconceptions because it placed emphasis on ovarian cysts, even though not all patients with the condition develop cysts on their ovaries.
“PCOS initially gave us a concept of problems with the ovaries that cause irregular periods and infertility. So, many people focused more on the condition of the ovaries.
“In doing so, they overlooked the possible (health) implications. The condition is closely linked to metabolic and endocrine disorders, with patients facing a higher risk of (developing) cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance. Some also face the risk of developing hypertension and endometrial conditions like hyperplasia or even endometrial cancer,” she said in a Zoom interview with Bernama.
Dr Chung said the term PMOS provides a better understanding of the condition for the public and patients, and even clinicians and general practitioners, particularly in terms of diagnosis and treatment.
Femma Clinic founder and resident doctor Dr Alia Zafira Zaferi said the change in name from PCOS to PMOS is necessary as the previous term focused more on the ovarian appearance and not the condition itself.
“PMOS is a more fitting term. Now more people will understand the condition better… it is not so much a reproductive system issue but a whole body issue. More importantly, it is a metabolic issue,” she said, adding that the name change is an eye-opener for doctors as it will get them to look at the condition from different angles, not just the reproductive system.
MORE THAN AN ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS
Besides improving the understanding of the condition, the shift to PMOS is also expected to reshape diagnostic approaches.
According to Dr Alia, the diagnosis of PMOS will extend beyond ultrasound findings and take into account other indicators, particularly those related to metabolic health and endocrine function.
“Previously, to diagnose PCOS, you just needed an ultrasound (scan), and that’s about it. But now we understand that a simple ultrasound is definitely not enough to diagnose PMOS. We need to do extensive blood screenings, sugar monitoring and also cardiovascular risk screening like blood pressure monitoring to actually properly diagnose PMOS,” she said.
From a clinical standpoint, Dr Chung said the shift to PMOS underscores the need for a more holistic approach to patient care, involving not only gynaecologists but also other specialists such as endocrinologists; cardiologists; ear, nose and throat specialists; and dermatologists.
“It is no longer solely a gynaecological issue. As gynaecologists, we help women with fertility and period regulation. We also look into the health of the uterus and ovaries, but we must not overlook the condition’s metabolic aspects.
“Management (of the condition) with a multidisciplinary team will be (a) more advanced (approach) because we are now recognising PMOS as a multisystemic condition,” she said, adding that this approach will also prevent delayed diagnosis of underlying health conditions that are linked to PMOS.
TRANSITION
While Malaysia’s healthcare community has welcomed the shift from PCOS to PMOS, experts say the transition will take place gradually as healthcare providers adapt to the new terminology and clinical guidelines.
According to Dr Chung, while the name change is necessary, implementing it across Malaysia’s healthcare system will require time and collaboration among healthcare professionals in both the public and private sectors.
“In Malaysia, there are many active international and national conferences involving clinicians and gynaecologists from both private and government sectors. Our professional associations are already organising master classes and educational updates (on PMOS),” she said.
Dr Chung believes the widespread adoption of PMOS will happen gradually as healthcare institutions update their systems.
“Changing a (medical) term involves many people (stakeholders) and takes a lot of time. However, the goal is to improve awareness of PMOS among the public and general practitioners, and (deciding) what are the next steps for follow-ups on new guidelines and training related to PMOS,” she explained.
Dr Alia agreed that it might take some time for Malaysian healthcare facilities to adopt the new terminology and be updated on the latest guidelines and recommendations on diagnosing and treating PMOS, adding that awareness of the condition has, however, grown significantly in recent years.
