The largest ever global initiative to change the name of a medical condition, PCOS’ name shift aims to end the misconception that the condition is all about ovarian cysts. Instead, PMOS reflects its true nature as a complex, whole-body metabolic and hormonal condition which affects more than 170 million women worldwide.
The international consensus process behind the name change was published in The Lancet in May, outlining consultation work involving more than 22,000 survey responses from patients and healthcare professionals globally, 56 organisations, and 14 years of international research and collaboration.
“We know there are no abnormal cysts, there are only arrested follicles that look like cysts on scans,” said Professor Helena Teede, director of Monash University’s Monash Centre for Health Research & Implementation, who led the name change process. “It’s not just a condition of the ovary, it’s not limited to gynaecological manifestations. It has metabolic, psychological, reproductive and dermatological impacts.”
Leila Martyn, founder of MyOva, a brand selling myo-inositol food supplements formulated for women with PCOS, said: “The rename from PCOS to PMOS is a correction that is long overdue.”
She argued that this reframing should not only improve diagnoses and healthcare, but also improve consumers’ ability to self-care, as women will start asking better questions and looking in the right places for support.
“A woman who understands what is driving her symptoms is a woman who can take meaningful action,” said Martyn.
She hoped the new name will give brands working in hormonal and metabolic health the ability to better communicate health benefits.
“When the condition is understood as metabolic at its core, the connection between blood sugar support, insulin sensitivity, cycle health and hormonal balance becomes far easier to communicate without having to unpick a misleading label first. That is a genuine opportunity.”
Women’s health claims under AI surveillance
The UK’s ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) AI monitoring system has led to a notable rise in the number of rulings related to women’s health supplements as it works to crack down on non-compliant menopause, PMS and hormonal health claims.
Most recently, it picked up an advert by 222 Collective Group Ltd, a women’s hormonal health supplements brand, which stated a wide range of claims, including: ‘help you feel calm, balanced, and back in control’; and ‘reduce menopausal or PMS symptoms’.
The ASA concluded the ad suggested the product could treat or relieve menopause and PMS symptoms, which is considered a medicinal claim.
Ada Dunin-Imbro, associate at Food Compliance International, said softer wellbeing claims such as ‘supports hormonal balance’ or ‘menopause support’ are allowed when linked to a specific ‘on hold’ claims, if manufacturers have scientific evidence proving that the ingredient provides the claimed effect at the amount used in the product.
“Importantly, this softer wording focuses on support and wellbeing and does not suggest medicinal effects.”
She added that brands in this arena should next focus on education, rather than capitalization.
“The brands that will benefit are those that explain the mechanism clearly, back their products with evidence, and speak to the real physiological experience of the women they serve. The rename removes a barrier. What sits behind it still has to be credible.”
MyOva will adopt the PMOS label into its comms gradually, Martyn said, using both terms in parallel during the transition, with a “simple and plain language explanation” of what has changed and why it matters.
“We will use our content and community to make sure this reaches the women who need it, not just the clinicians and researchers discussing it in journals,” Martyn added.
Ella Kaur, pracitioner lead at the women’s health supplements brand Dr. Vegan, agreed the change is “long overdue” and a “really positive step forward for women’s health”.
“The old name contributed to stigma, fragmented care, and a frustrating lack of understanding, both in medical settings and in wider society,” she said. “The new name, PMOS, puts the hormonal and metabolic nature of the condition front and centre, where it belongs.”
She argued one of the most important things the new name does is remind healthcare providers and consumers just how wide-ranging this condition is.
Multi-nutrient support for multi-pathway metabolic condition
Research over the last decade has increasingly shown that PCOS is not just a reproductive condition. It is strongly connected to insulin resistance, inflammation and metabolic health.
Symptoms can include: Irregular or absent periods, acne, excess facial or body hair, hair thinning on the scalp, weight gain, fertility difficulties, fatigue, cravings and blood sugar crashes.
“One of the most important things to understand about PCOS is that, for many women, the condition is driven largely by insulin resistance,” Kaur explained, noting this makes nutrition an important aspect of symptom control.
“Certain nutrients have been shown to be beneficial in PCOS management. For example, inositol, magnesium, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids may all help reduce symptoms. While food should always form the foundation, some women may struggle to obtain optimal levels through diet alone, particularly where deficiencies or increased requirements are present.”
Research suggests inositol may help improve: Insulin sensitivity, ovulation, menstrual regularity, and egg quality.
Magnesium plays an important role in glucose metabolism, insulin signalling and nervous system regulation.
“Women with PCOS who experience cravings, poor sleep or stress-related symptoms may particularly benefit from optimising magnesium intake through food and, in some cases, supplementation,” said Kaur.
Vitamin D deficiency is common in women with PCOS and has been associated with insulin resistance, ovulatory dysfunction and poorer metabolic health.
Omega-3 fats may help support inflammatory balance and metabolic health in PCOS.
Kaur added: “Some evidence suggests omega-3 supplementation may improve inflammatory markers and androgen levels in certain women.”
