PCOS Is Now PMOS: What the New Name Means — and How Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Can Help

For years, many women diagnosed with PCOS felt frustrated by the name itself. Some women were told they “couldn’t have PCOS” because they did not have ovarian cysts. Others found that healthcare conversations focused heavily on fertility while overlooking the broader metabolic, hormonal, inflammatory, and mental health impacts of the condition. Now, after more than a decade of global collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and patients, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) has officially been renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS).

Why Was PCOS Renamed to PMOS?

The previous term “PCOS” had long been criticised for being misleading and medically inaccurate.

Many women with the condition:

• do not actually have ovarian cysts

• experience significant metabolic symptoms

• struggle with insulin resistance

• have cardiovascular and inflammatory risk factors

• experience mental health challenges

• develop symptoms far beyond reproductive health

  
  

The new name — Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) — aims to better reflect:

• endocrine (hormonal) features

• metabolic effects

• reproductive impacts

• psychological symptoms

• systemic nature

  
  

The name change was published in The Lancet following international consensus involving more than 50 organisations and thousands of patient responses worldwide.

PMOS Is More Than a Reproductive Condition

Historically, many women felt their symptoms were reduced to:

• irregular periods

• fertility concerns

• ovarian ultrasound findings

  
  

However, PMOS may also involve:

• insulin resistance

• chronic inflammation

• fatigue

• weight fluctuations

• anxiety and depression

• pelvic pain

• sleep difficulties

• body image distress

• nervous system dysregulation

• cardiovascular risk factors

  
  

Common Symptoms Women With PMOS Experience

Women commonly seek support for:

• irregular menstrual cycles

• pelvic pain

• painful periods

• bladder symptoms

• fatigue and burnout

• difficulty exercising comfortably

• lower back and hip pain

• pelvic floor dysfunction

• abdominal pressure and tension

• anxiety and stress overload

PMOS symptoms can vary significantly between individuals, which is one reason diagnosis and treatment have often been delayed. Many women report years of feeling dismissed or misunderstood before receiving appropriate support.

How PMOS Can Affect Pelvic Floor Health

Hormonal and metabolic changes associated with PMOS may influence:

• pelvic floor muscle function

• pain sensitivity

• inflammation

• bladder and bowel symptoms

• exercise tolerance

• nervous system regulation

• abdominal pressure management

  
  

Women with PMOS may also experience:

• chronic pelvic tension

• pelvic floor overactivity

• painful intimacy

• constipation

• bladder urgency

• lower back pain

• difficulty returning to exercise confidently

  
  

Importantly, chronic stress and nervous system overload — both common in women managing PMOS — can also contribute to pelvic floor tension and persistent pain patterns.

Exercise and PMOS: Why Individualised Support Matters

Women with PMOS are often advised to “just exercise more.” However, many women experience:

• fatigue

• pelvic pain

• burnout

• bladder symptoms

• nervous system overwhelm

• difficulty tolerating high-intensity exercise

  
  

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help women:

• return to exercise safely

• improve movement confidence

• manage prolapse or bladder symptoms

• support breathing and core function

• reduce pain during movement

• build sustainable exercise routines

  
  

Importantly, treatment should be individualised and supportive — not focused on shame or unrealistic expectations.

A More Holistic Future for Women’s Healthcare

Many women living with PMOS describe feeling relieved that the new terminology better reflects the complexity of the condition. The shift from PCOS to PMOS represents an important move toward:

• earlier diagnosis

• improved education

• multidisciplinary care

• reduced stigma

• whole-body healthcare approaches

  
  

Women deserve healthcare that considers:

• hormones

• metabolism

• mental health

• pelvic health

• movement

• nervous system wellbeing

• quality of life together

Supporting Women Across South East Melbourne

Samara Nanayakkara is passionate about supporting women navigating PMOS, pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic pain, hormonal health concerns, and nervous system dysregulation with compassionate, evidence-informed women’s health physiotherapy care. Women across Rowville, Mulgrave, Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley, Wheelers Hill, Oakleigh, Scoresby, Knox, Surrey Hills, Burwood, and Notting Hill are increasingly seeking holistic women’s health support that recognises the complex relationship between hormones, metabolism, stress, movement, and pelvic floor health.

Because PMOS is far more than a reproductive condition — and women deserve healthcare that sees the full picture.

References:

Teede, H., et al. (2026). International evidence-based guideline and global consensus on the renaming of polycystic ovary syndrome to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00717-8