PCOS Has a New Name and What That Means for You

If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS or suspect you might have it you may have recently heard that it has a new name. As of May 2026, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has officially been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS.

At Courage to Nourish, we want to make sure you understand what this change means and what it doesn’t mean for your health and your care.

Why Was the Name Changed?

The renaming wasn’t a quick decision. It was the result of more than a decade of global consultation involving over 22,000 people patients, doctors, researchers, and advocacy groups from around the world. The goal was simple: give this condition a name that actually describes it.

The old name, polycystic ovary syndrome, pointed to ovarian cysts which is misleading, because not everyone with this condition has cysts, and the ovaries are only one part of the picture. The new name, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, reflects that this is a whole-body hormonal and metabolic condition, not just a gynecological one.

The name change was officially announced in The Lancet in May 2026 and has been endorsed by major organizations including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

What Hasn’t Changed

Here’s the most important thing to know: the condition itself has not changed. If you were diagnosed with PCOS, you now have PMOS. Your symptoms, your biology, your treatment options none of that is different. What changed is the framing, and that framing matters.

A name that includes “endocrine” and “metabolic” opens doors. It pushes providers to look beyond the ovaries and consider insulin resistance, hormonal imbalances, and whole-body metabolic health which is exactly the kind of comprehensive care you deserve.

Courage to Nourish dietitians specialize in hormone and metabolic health nutrition. We stay current with the latest clinical guidance so your care always reflects the best available evidence.

What This Means in the Healthcare World

The rollout of PMOS across the healthcare system is planned to happen gradually over the next three years, covering guidelines used in 195 countries. That means for a while, you may still see PCOS used by your doctor, on insurance paperwork, or in older online resources. That’s normal and expected.

As dietitians, we’ll be using PMOS (formerly PCOS) going forward, while making sure our language stays accessible to anyone who’s more familiar with the old term. Search engines and healthcare systems are catching up and so are we.

How We’re Updating Our Website

You’ll notice that across couragetonourish.com, we’ve begun transitioning our content to reflect the new name. Where you previously saw PCOS, you’ll now see PMOS (formerly PCOS). We’re updating blog posts, service pages, and resources to keep our content current, accurate, and in line with the latest evidence-based guidance.

If you have questions about what this means for your nutrition care plan, or if you’d like to learn more about how we support people with PMOS, we’d love to hear from you.

Our dietitians take an individualized, weight-inclusive approach to PMOS care. No universal meal plans, no diet culture. Just personalized, non-diet support built to fit indivudal clients’ needs.

Working With a Dietitian for PMOS

Our approach to PMOS care is individualized from the start. We take the time to get to know you, your relationship with food, and your personal goals before anything else. From there, we work collaboratively with you to build a nutrition approach that fits your life, rooted in weight-inclusive principles and intuitive eating.

Whether you’ve just received a diagnosis or you’ve been managing this condition for years, we’re here to support you in a way that feels sustainable, compassionate, and genuinely yours.

Final Thoughts on the shift from PCOS to PMOS

Naming matters. Historically, it’s been rare for the healthcare community to pause, revisit the evidence, and say: we can do better. This renaming is exactly that, a meaningful commitment to understanding this condition in its full complexity. At Courage to Nourish, that same commitment to nuance and whole-person care is what we bring to every session. We’d love to support you.

If you would like to learn more about our support for clients with PMOS or to scheudle an appointment with one of our dietitians we encourge you to reach out, or click here to schedule a complimentary 15-minute discovery call.