PCOS, which affects millions of women, is now known as PMOS. Why the renaming is important

(Jennifer La Grassa/ CBC News) — After more than a decade of discussion and debate, polycystic ovary syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is getting a rebrand. 

The chronic hormonal disorder will now be called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. 

The condition, which is estimated to affect around 170 million women worldwide, can cause a range of symptoms including irregular or disrupted menstrual cycles, infertility, excessive facial hair and mental health issues. 

The new name was published in The Lancet and announced at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague. 

Some Canadian experts, patients and advocates who spoke with CBC News have praised the name change, hoping it will mean earlier diagnosis, an approach toward holistic treatments and more awareness of lesser known symptoms of the condition. (…)