Global Health Consensus Renames Polycystic Ovary Syndrome to Better Reflect Systemic Nature
A global medical consensus has officially renamed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (SOMP), according to a report published May 12, 2026, in the medical journal The Lancet. The change aims to correct a long-standing clinical misconception and more accurately describe a condition that affects more than 170 million women worldwide.
For years, the term “polycystic” suggested that the primary driver of the syndrome was the presence of pathological cysts in the ovaries. However, researchers now emphasize that the condition is far more complex, involving systemic hormonal, metabolic, reproductive, dermatological, and psychological disruptions that affect the entire body.
The transition to the name Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome is intended to shift the clinical focus away from the ovaries alone and toward the broader endocrine and metabolic imbalances at play. Experts believe this shift in terminology could be crucial for improving patient care and reducing the time it takes for women to receive an accurate diagnosis.
“This name change process was a global initiative of great magnitude and, representative of patients, clinicians, and public policy agents. The old denomination was erroneous because it focused only on the so-called cysts, which in reality are not cysts, but follicles with interrupted growth,” stated Poli Mara Spritzer, an endocrinologist and professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS).
The renaming process was an extensive international effort coordinated by the Global Name Change Consortium. The initiative involved researchers from 13 different universities, clinical centers, and patient organizations, and received the formal support of 56 academic, clinical, and patient advocacy organizations globally. To ensure the new name resonated with those most affected, the consortium integrated feedback from more than 14,000 responses gathered through global surveys.
In Brazil, the effort was supported by the Sociedade Brasileira de Endocrinologia e Metabologia (SBEM), with Dr. Spritzer representing the country within the consortium.
While the diagnosis criteria for the condition remain unchanged, the updated terminology underscores the systemic nature of the syndrome. By framing the condition as a polyendocrine and metabolic issue, the medical community hopes to foster a more comprehensive approach to treatment and management.
This update reflects a growing movement in public health to ensure medical terminology accurately describes the pathology of a disease, which can lead to more precise clinical pathways and better health outcomes for millions of women.
