FROM POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME TO POLYENDOCRINE METABOLIC OVARIAN SYNDROME: CONTEMPORARY CONCEPTS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Abstract

Summary. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, heterogeneous, and chronic condition encompassing the reproductive, endocrine, metabolic, and psychological dimensions of women’s health. In 2026, an international consensus established a new nomenclature for the condition: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). This change in terminology does not alter current diagnostic criteria; rather, it aims to more accurately reflect the multisystem nature of the syndrome while moving away from the misleading emphasis on ovarian “cysts”. This article discusses the rationale behind the name change, contemporary concepts of PMOS pathogenesis, and diagnostic principles in adult women and adolescents. It further reviews the syndrome’s associations with ovulatory dysfunction and subfertility, pregnancy complications, metabolic, cardiovascular, endometrial, and psychological health, as well as potential agedependent changes in clinical expression. The pathogenesis of PMOS is multifactorial and its clinical presentation heterogeneous. Although individual pathophysiological mechanisms are substantiated by clinical, genetic, cellular, and experimental evidence, their complex interrelationships and the primary etiology remain to be fully elucidated. Longterm management of patients with PMOS must be individualized, addressing not only reproductive symptoms but also incorporating comprehensive risk assessments for metabolic, cardiovascular, endometrial, and psychological sequelae. Keywords: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, insulin resistance, reproductive health, metabolic health.