A group of world health experts and medical leaders want to rename polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. Here's what they're proposing instead and why. (Adobe Stock)

A condition that impacts millions of women is getting a new name. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, a reproductive hormone imbalance, will now be known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS for short.

A Lancet Health Policy paper reports an international consensus process that selected polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) as the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The change aims to shift the focus away from ovarian cysts and better reflect the condition’s endocrine,

Different from ovarian cysts, PCOS is associated with infertility, pregnancy complications, heart disease and a general decreased quality of life, and yet fewer than half of those affected even know they have it.

The focus on ovarian cysts has led to delays in diagnoses and fragmented care, while the new name aims to improve how the condition is detected, treated, and explained, the researchers said