PCOS name change to PMOS to lead to a holistic approach, involve more disciplines: Prof. Terhi Piltonen
Professor Terhi Piltonen on why PCOS is being renamed PMOS and what the change could mean for how the condition is diagnosed and treated
Earlier this year, the Endocrine Society rebranded Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), affecting one in eight women globally, to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). This shift, proposed by Professor Helena J. Teede and co-led by Professor Terhi Piltonen, aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the condition.
Professor Piltonen, president of the International Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Society (AE-PCOS Society), discussed the implications of this name change during an interview with The Hindu.
The renaming process took 14 years, involving over 56 societies and 100 individuals. The goal was to consider cultural aspects, acceptability, and adaptability to better address the syndrome's impact on patients' overall health. The new name, PMOS, emphasizes a holistic approach, focusing on how the condition affects mood, psychology, metabolism, and menstrual cycles. Piltonen hopes this change will encourage more interdisciplinary involvement in research and treatment, moving beyond obstetrician-gynecologists.
The transition to PMOS will occur gradually over three years, with a current overlap period where both PCOS and PMOS codes will be used in research. Piltonen anticipates a broader range of studies, potentially involving endocrinologists, internal medicine specialists, and dermatologists. However, she acknowledges that funding for research focusing on women's health issues remains inadequate compared to conditions like erectile dysfunction or diabetes.
Professor Piltonen also believes that PMOS is a "modern" condition, linked to the high-energy food environment prevalent in today's society. She argues that the modern lifestyle, with its abundance of high-calorie foods and increased stress factors, may be a significant factor in the development of PCOS.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
