I’m a doctor who helped rename PCOS to PMOS – a 10-year process of listening to 14,000 patients and health professionals speak on how to improve care

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an inaccurate name for a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Its new name can help address missed diagnoses and fragmented care.

By: Melanie Cree, University of Colorado Anschutz, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 29, 2026

Words: 1,088

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

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By Melanie Cree, University of Colorado Anschutz

A disease’s name can have a significant influence on its diagnosis and treatment – or lack thereof. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. For decades, doctors thought the condition mostly affected the ovaries, but its misleading name has left many people undiagnosed and at risk of developing several related chronic conditions at a young age.

In a study published on May …

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