What is PCOS, and why is it being renamed PMOS?

PCOS is one of the most common hormone conditions in young women, and one of the most misunderstood. Many women are told they have “cysts” and are left worried about their fertility, while the bigger long-term issues, such as diabetes risk, are not discussed. This page explains what the condition really is, and why its name changed in 2026.

What is PCOS?

PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. It is a long-term condition in which several hormone systems work differently at the same time:

• the ovaries make more male-type hormones (androgens) than usual
• the brain’s signals to the ovaries are altered, so eggs often do not mature and release regularly
• the body is often less sensitive to insulin (insulin resistance), even in lean women
• the hormone AMH, made by small follicles in the ovary, tends to be high

These changes together cause the main features of the condition.

Why is it being renamed PMOS?

The old name suggests that the ovaries are full of harmful cysts. They are not. What looks like “cysts” on ultrasound are small, normal follicles (egg sacs) that have paused in their development. The name also focuses only on the ovary, while the condition affects metabolism, the skin, mood and long-term health.

In May 2026, a global consensus published in The Lancet, involving 56 academic, clinical and patient organisations and survey responses from more than 14,000 people with the condition and health professionals, agreed a new name: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).

• Polyendocrine means several hormone systems are involved.
• Metabolic reflects insulin resistance and the higher risk of diabetes, fatty liver and heart disease.
• Ovarian keeps the link to irregular ovulation and periods.

The change is being introduced gradually, over a transition period, with updates to guidelines, health records and the international disease classification planned over the next few years. So you will still see “PCOS” on most reports and websites in India for some time. Both names describe the same condition, and the way it is diagnosed and treated has not changed. On this site we use “PCOS” because that is the term most people still search for.

How common is it in India?

Very common. A large ICMR study of nearly 9,000 women across India, published in 2024, found that about 1 in 5 women of reproductive age met the widely used Rotterdam criteria. Worldwide, the Lancet consensus estimates it affects about 1 in 8 women. Many have never been diagnosed.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms vary a lot from woman to woman:

• irregular, infrequent or absent periods
• extra hair on the face, chin, chest or belly (hirsutism)
• acne, especially persistent or along the jawline
• thinning of scalp hair
• weight gain, especially around the waist, and difficulty losing weight
• darker, velvety skin in the neck folds or armpits (acanthosis nigricans), a sign of insulin resistance
• difficulty getting pregnant
• low mood, anxiety and poor body image

You do not need to have all of these. Some women with PCOS are lean, and some have regular periods.

What causes it?

There is no single cause. PCOS runs in families, and large genetic studies have found many genes that each add a small amount of risk. Insulin resistance and weight gain make the hormone changes worse, which is why lifestyle has such a strong effect. The condition is not caused by anything you did, and it is not caused by stress or by “late marriage”, though these myths are common.

Why does it matter for long-term health?

PCOS is not only about periods or fertility. Women with PCOS have a higher risk of:

• prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, and diabetes in pregnancy
• fatty liver, high cholesterol and high blood pressure
• heart disease later in life
• thickening of the womb lining if periods are very infrequent for long periods, which over years raises the risk of endometrial cancer
• depression, anxiety and eating disorders
• sleep apnoea

In the Indian study, most women with PCOS had at least one metabolic problem, such as abnormal cholesterol. Read PCOS, weight and metabolic health.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosis is based on symptoms, blood tests and sometimes an ultrasound, after ruling out other hormone problems. Read how PCOS is diagnosed.

Treatment depends on what bothers you most and your stage of life. It usually includes healthy eating, activity and weight management, and may include medicines such as the combined pill to regulate periods and reduce hair and acne, metformin, or fertility treatment. Read how the 21-day pill pack is used for PCOS and can I get pregnant with PCOS. Your doctor will discuss which options suit you.

What should I ask my doctor?

• Do my symptoms and tests fit PCOS, or could it be something else?
• Should I be checked for diabetes, cholesterol and fatty liver?
• What treatment fits my goals right now: periods, skin, weight or pregnancy?

To discuss your symptoms, book a consultation.