PCOS is becoming PCOS 2.0: why this name change matters

Le terme « syndrome des ovaires polykystiques » date du milieu du XXe siècle. Il décrivait ce que les médecins voyaient à l'échographie : de multiples petites structures sur les ovaires qu'ils ont appelées « kystes ». Or ces structures ne sont pas des kystes pathologiques : ce sont des follicules, c'est-à-dire de petits sacs contenant des ovocytes, qui n'ont pas achevé leur maturation [2]. Un nom fondé sur une observation qui s'est révélée trompeuse.

Ce malentendu a eu des conséquences bien réelles pendant des décennies.

D'abord, il a enfermé la maladie dans un cadre purement gynécologique. Beaucoup de femmes, et de soignants, pensaient qu'il s'agissait d'un problème ovarien isolé, à traiter principalement sous l'angle de la fertilité. Or le SOPK est un syndrome qui affecte tout le corps : les hormones, le métabolisme, la peau, le poids, la santé cardiovasculaire et la santé mentale [1][3].

Ensuite, ce nom a contribué à des retards de diagnostic importants. Selon l'OMS, jusqu'à 70 % des femmes concernées ne seraient pas diagnostiquées [4]. Quand une femme consulte pour de l'acné, une prise de poids inexpliquée ou de la fatigue, le lien avec un « syndrome des ovaires polykystiques » n'est pas toujours fait, précisément parce que le nom oriente l'attention vers les ovaires et non vers la globalité du tableau clinique.

Enfin, le mot « polykystique » a généré une stigmatisation inutile. Il évoque une pathologie grave, des kystes à retirer, voire une anomalie structurelle des ovaires. Or il est tout à fait possible d'avoir un SOPK sans présenter de follicules multiples à l'échographie, et inversement, d'avoir des ovaires dits « polykystiques » sans souffrir de ce syndrome.

This name change is not a decision taken lightly. It is the result of an international consensus process of 14 years, involving 56 scientific, clinical and patient organisations, with the participation of more than 22,000 people across six continents [1].

This work was led by Professor Helena Teede, endocrinologist and director of the Health Research Centre at Monash University (Australia), in collaboration with the AE-PCOS Society, the international learned society of reference on the subject [5]. The results were published on 12 May 2026 in The Lancet, one of the most prestigious medical journals in the world, and presented at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague [1].

The process followed rigorous principles: scientific accuracy, clarity, absence of stigmatisation, cultural appropriateness and feasibility of implementation. International surveys gathered the views of more than 14,300 patients and healthcare professionals. The result: 86% of patients and 71% of clinicians were in favour of the change, primarily due to the confusion and stigmatisation caused by the former name [3].

Each word of the new name was chosen to reflect the scientific reality of the condition [1][3].

Syndrome: this is not a single condition but a cluster of symptoms and dysregulations that interact with one another. Each woman may present a different clinical picture.

Metabolic: this is probably the most significant addition. Insulin resistance is present in approximately 85% of women affected, including 75% of women with a "normal" weight [6]. This metabolic dysregulation increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Until now, this dimension was often given secondary consideration in care management.

Ovarian: the ovaries remain implicated in the syndrome, particularly through ovulation disorders and infertility. The word is retained so as not to lose this reproductive dimension, which remains essential for many women.

Polyendocrine: the syndrome involves multiple hormonal systems, not only ovarian hormones. Hyperandrogenism (excess androgens), neuroendocrine abnormalities (dysregulation of LH and GnRH at brain level), and hyperinsulinaemia interact in a vicious cycle that affects the whole body [6].

In summary, MOPCS finally places the real mechanisms of the condition at the heart of its name, rather than an ultrasound observation that is merely one of its consequences among many.

Your diagnosis remains valid

If you have already been diagnosed with PCOS, your diagnosis does not change. PCOM refers to exactly the same condition. Your test results, follow-up care and treatments remain valid. You do not need to consult again to obtain a "new diagnosis" [1]. Gradually, your medical reports and prescriptions will begin to mention the new term.

The diagnostic criteria remain the same

The Rotterdam criteria, used since 2003 to establish the diagnosis, are not modified by this change of name. At least two of the following three criteria must still be met [2]:

• ovulatory disorders (irregular, long or absent cycles);
• clinical hyperandrogenism (acne, hirsutism, hair loss) or biological hyperandrogenism (elevated androgen levels);
• multifollicular ovaries on ultrasound.

What should evolve is the overall management of care

The most important change is a change in medical perspective. With PCOM, care should no longer be limited to cycles or fertility. The metabolic and cardiovascular dimension of the syndrome is now recognised from the very name of the condition [3][5].

In practice, this means that healthcare professionals should incorporate more systematically:

• screening for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes;
• monitoring of blood pressure and lipid profile;
• assessment of mental health (anxiety, depression, body image issues);
• follow-up care beyond the reproductive years.

This is a significant step forward: too many women diagnosed with PCOS had never benefited from a full metabolic assessment, simply because the condition had been reduced to an "ovarian problem".

Better recognition, less stigmatisation

Explaining that one has a "polycystic ovary metabolic syndrome" immediately gives a more accurate picture of the complexity of the condition. It is a communication tool, both for patients and healthcare professionals. The word "polycystic", which evoked threatening cysts or a structural abnormality, disappears in favour of descriptive and medically precise terminology [1][5].

The rollout is planned over three years, with a progressive update of clinical recommendations used in 195 countries, medical training manuals, and international disease classification systems [3]. Eight implementation steps have been defined in the Lancet publication, including updating educational materials, co-designing resources with patients, and awareness campaigns [1].

In France, Inserm still uses the term PCOS in its documentation [2], but updates are expected to follow over the coming months. In the meantime, both terms will coexist.

It would be dishonest to present this name change as a solution to all the problems. PCOS remains a complex, multifactorial syndrome for which there is no single treatment. A new name does not cure anyone.

Some voices in the scientific community regret that the word "ovarian" has been retained, arguing that it perpetuates a gynaecological bias in the perception of the condition [7]. Others highlight that the real challenge remains the funding of research and access to quality multidisciplinary care.

But the majority of experts and patient associations agree on one point: naming a condition correctly is the first step towards better understanding it, better diagnosing it, and better treating it.

Le passage du SOPK au SMOP, c'est la fin d'un nom trompeur qui a contribué à des décennies d'errance diagnostique, de prise en charge partielle et de stigmatisation. Le nouveau nom reflète enfin ce que la science a établi depuis des années : le syndrome implique tout le corps, hormones, métabolisme, ovaires, et bien au-delà.

Si vous êtes concernée par ce syndrome, ce changement de nom est une bonne nouvelle. Non pas parce qu'il change votre quotidien du jour au lendemain, mais parce qu'il pose les fondations d'une meilleure reconnaissance et d'une prise en charge plus complète.

Et si vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur le SMOP et si vous êtes en parcours de conception, notre article SOPK et grossesse fait le point sur la fertilité et le suivi de grossesse.