The NHS website has not yet been updated to reflect the official renaming of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic syndrome (PMOS), leaving patients reliant on outdated information while a three-year transition period begins.
The change, announced last week after a 14‑year global effort involving medical experts, charities and women with lived experience, was published in The Lancet and unveiled at the European Congress of Endocrinology. It follows recognition that the former name overemphasised ovarian cysts and failed to capture the full scope of the condition – a complex hormonal and metabolic disorder that affects an estimated one in eight women, or about 3.1 million people in the UK alone.
Yet a search of the NHS website currently shows no mention of the new name or any indication that information about the condition is under review.
Charity calls for urgent update
Grassroots charity Cysters has urged the NHS to act quickly. Neelam Heera‑Shergill, its CEO and founder, said: “As an organisation rooted in reproductive and health justice, we welcome conversations around language that better reflect the realities and experiences of those living with PMOS/PCOS. But any name change must go beyond symbolism.” She stressed that communities deserve “clear, accessible and timely information so people are not left confused, excluded or struggling to access support and diagnosis.”
Heera‑Shergill added: “For many people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds who already face barriers within healthcare, clarity and visibility can make a real difference in accessing the rightful care and support they need.”
Transition period and wider context
The renaming is not expected to take full effect until 2028, when the International Guideline for the condition is updated. During this three‑year transition, both names will be used in tandem to avoid confusion. Caroline Andrews, a trustee of the charity Verity – which was a key participant in the name‑change process – noted that the NHS is already navigating a busy period of reform. “We fully appreciate that they need transition time just like we do, just like many other organisations do,” she said. “And we’d much rather the NHS do this carefully and thoughtfully, considering this in placement with all the lines of care.”
Andrews pointed to a series of recent developments: the resignation of Wes Streeting as Health Secretary and the appointment of James Murray in May 2026; the launch of the renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England in April 2026; and the expected publication of the first‑ever standalone Nice guidelines for PMOS/PCOS later this year, currently scheduled for 9 December 2026. “The Nice guidelines are coming through,” she added, “and [the NHS needs to consider] how this is fitting with the delivery of care.”
Expert warnings over patient confusion
Dr Sophie Williams, an expert on PCOS/PMOS and mental health at the University of Derby, warned that the absence of any reference to the new name on the NHS website could cause significant confusion. “When you go on the NHS website and it’s still [saying] polycystic ovaries, PCOS… as a member of the public, that might make you question the legitimacy of the information you’re getting,” she said. The NHS website, she noted, is often the first place people turn to for rigorous, reliable health advice. “So from my perspective, I do think that the sooner the better.”
Dr Williams suggested two practical options to bridge the gap: running identical shadow webpages for PCOS and PMOS that link to each other, or adding a clear note on the current page stating that the condition has been renamed and that the information is being reviewed. “The sooner all of those reliable sources of information can align, the clearer the messaging will be for somebody in the public who might not know where to go to get correct information,” she said.
Professor Channa Jayasena, an expert in reproductive endocrinology at Imperial College London, welcomed the name change as “a tremendous initiative” and “a great step forward in helping women and clinicians understand the full breadth of the seriousness of the condition.” But he acknowledged that the shift has only just happened and that professional societies worldwide are still informing their members. “There’s a long history of many conditions sometimes still being called outdated things by clinicians because it takes a while for the workforce to be updated and upskilled,” he said. “I can guarantee you, not all doctors know about this at the moment, and therefore not all patients will.” He said he fully expects the NHS, along with professional societies and patient support groups, to update their websites over the next year or two.
The previous name, PCOS, contributed to widespread misconceptions that the condition was solely about ovarian cysts, leading to delayed diagnoses and fragmented care. A related paper in The Lancet found no increase in abnormal ovarian cysts among those with the condition, further supporting the need for a name that better reflects its endocrine and metabolic features – which include impacts on weight, mental health, skin and the reproductive system. The renaming process itself was extensive, involving more than 22,000 survey responses and multiple international workshops, reflecting broad consensus among clinicians and patients alike.
An NHS spokesperson said: “We routinely review and update content on the NHS website to ensure it reflects the latest clinical advice and will carefully consider these recommendations. The NHS will also continue our work to improve women’s healthcare, including for this important group, which involves giving women more choice over their care, bringing down waiting times, and delivering more care in communities.”
