[From PCOS to PMOS: nomenclature revision and paradigm shift in disease perception].

Abstract

In May 2026, Lancet published an online global consensus statement on the unified renaming of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Developed with participation from 56 international organizations, tens of thousands of patient survey datasets, and multidisciplinary expert deliberations, the consensus officially replaced the nearly 90-year-old term PCOS with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). This nomenclature revision rectifies misleading terminology and accurately reflects the disease's core nature of concurrent endocrine, metabolic, and ovarian dysfunction. This paper reviews the background, methodological rationale, and core connotations of the global renaming consensus, illustrates the paradigm shifts in disease understanding, standardized screening, stratified therapy, and chronic disease management driven by the name change, and proposes targeted countermeasures and transitional management recommendations for endocrinology and metabolism specialties tailored to clinical practice in China. It aims to deliver actionable practical guidance for frontline clinicians.