(WKYT) – A hormonal condition affecting one in eight women globally just got a new name.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), is now referred to as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS.
Cassie Prather, public health director of the Woodford County Health Department, said the condition doesn’t always involve cysts inside the ovary, making its previous name misleading.
“At the core of this name change it gives a better explanation of what this actual syndrome does to your body,” she said.
Prather said the condition can vary from person to person. Symptoms include a wide range of hormonal issues, weight fluctuation, hair growth, painful or irregular periods. For some, PMOS can make it harder to get pregnant.
She said expanding the name would open doors to improving women’s healthcare and early detection.
“Making strides in healthcare, more research will lead to better outcomes for absolutely everyone,” Prather said.
For Prather, this change is personal. She found out she had PMOS at 16.
“I just knew that my menstrual cycle was very abnormal. It could be every two months or three months, but then I started having pain in my right lower quadrant,” Prather said.
That’s when Prather made an appointment and found out she had ovarian cysts.
“I had several surgeries to have those removed over the, I want to say, a span of about probably 10 years. I was told at 16 that it was probably going to take a while for me to get pregnant, if I was able to get pregnant,” Prather said.
But with proper care, Prather went on to have five children. She says she hopes this name change and improvements in PMOS detection can help other women.
“I think we’re going to be able to catch more cases by broadening this definition and having these other symptoms on people’s radars,” Prather said.