For years, polycystic ovary syndrome, better known as PCOS, has been one of the most common but misunderstood health conditions affecting women.

Now, an international panel of physicians, researchers, and patient advocates has given PCOS a new name: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS.

The change aims to better reflect the condition’s full-body nature. While PMOS has long been associated with irregular periods, and fertility challenges, physicians say the disorder affects far more than reproductive health.

“This really incorporates more endocrine and metabolic features into the diagnosis,” says Emily Brophy, MD, an OB-GYN with Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), part of Jefferson Health.

PMOS affects at least one in 10 women in the United States, according to Katherine Sherif, MD, an internal medicine and women’s health specialist at Jefferson Health. Some estimates place the number even higher.

“We believe that at least 50% of women with PMOS are undiagnosed,” Dr. Sherif says.

Melissa Aylesworth, PA-C, with LVHN, says women of childbearing age are primarily affected, though associated symptoms can start in early adolescence and persist past menopause.

Traditionally, PMOS was viewed primarily as a reproductive disorder because it can cause irregular periods, ovarian cysts and infertility. But experts increasingly recognize that the condition is deeply connected to metabolism, hormones, and long-term health risks.

“Insulin resistance is a big part of PMOS,” Dr. Brophy says. “It increases insulin in the body, which can contribute to a whole downstream effect outside of just the ovaries.”

That metabolic impact can include obesity, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disease. Elevated androgen levels may also contribute to symptoms such as acne, excess facial or body hair, and hair thinning.

Aylesworth says visible symptoms such as excess facial hair, thinning scalp hair, acne, and weight changes often have a “profound impact” on self-esteem, mental health, and overall quality of life. The increased risk of infertility and endometrial cancer associated with untreated chronic anovulation can contribute to emotional distress. “These concerns are not simply cosmetic — they can influence how women view themselves, affect their relationships, and impact their daily lives,” Aylesworth says.

While the new name better represents the condition as a whole-body disorder and could help shape research and treatment, Dr. Sherif says changing the name alone will not solve the larger issue of underdiagnosis. “I hope the attention surrounding the name change increases awareness.”

She also worries the new acronym could create confusion or unintentionally shift focus away from symptoms women already tend to dismiss. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to menstrual health and seek answers when something feels off.

“Periods are like a vital sign,” Dr. Sherif says. “If they’re not occurring regularly, or if bleeding is unusually heavy or absent, you should talk to your clinician.”

To make an appointment with one of our women’s health clinicians, log on to LVHN.org. You can request appointments at LVPG Obstetrics and Gynecology–Carbon, 2226 Blakeslee Blvd. Drive East, Suite 200, Lehighton.