PCOS name change 'more representative of condition'

Polycystic ovary syndrome has been renamed to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome to better represent the condition as a whole-body metabolic and endocrine disorder rather than one limited to ovaries. The change, implemented on 12 May, aims to improve understanding and support treatment and diagnosis. People with PCOS/PMOS can have higher levels of male hormones, irregular periods, and weight gain. Symptoms can include fatigue, unwanted hair growth, acne, brain fog, irregular periods, and infertility. PCOS Jersey chair Jessica Pinel says the older term can limit awareness of the full range of symptoms and that misinformation online can prevent women from getting accurate education and support.

"Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been renamed to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The International PCOS Network said it hoped the name change, instituted on 12 May, would improve understanding and help with treatment and diagnoses. Jessica Pinel, a nutritionist and the chair of PCOS Jersey, said she felt the term PCOS "limited the condition to having an effect on women's ovaries, whereas we know that it is a full body condition"."

"Those with PCOS/PMOS had higher levels of male hormones and could suffer from irregular periods and weight gain, the NHS said. She said she felt the term PCOS "limited the condition to having an effect on women's ovaries, whereas we know that it is a full-body condition". Pinel said she felt the term PCOS "limited the condition to having an effect on women's ovaries"."

"Pinel said in her work she supported a lot of women with PCOS/PMOS and that there was "such a diverse array of symptoms" which had "such an impact on their day-to-day lives". She said: "We know that it can be fatigue, hair growth in unwanted places, acne, brain fog even, irregular periods and infertility. "It is that full-body condition with a range of different symptoms and, hopefully, [the name change] allows more women to get support and treatment for that range of different symptoms because the condition affects us in unique ways.""

"Pinel said she wanted more education for women who may not know they had it and to support those who did. "We can't just put the onus on the women themselves to seek out that sort of education - there is so much misinformation online, on TikTok, Instagram, even Facebook. "If that's where you're seeking out knowledge... we've got to be really, really careful," she said."

Read at www.bbc.com