More than one in 10 women of reproductive age have a hormonal disorder which can have wide-ranging health effects, including on metabolism, skin, mental health and the reproductive and cardiovascular systems.
Despite these diverse symptoms, the condition is known as polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. It is a name many experts and those living with the disease says is reductive and misleading, prompting a global initiative working to formally rename PCOS to something that more accurately reflects the disease.
Leading researchers say the name’s focus on ovarian cysts “overlooks the condition’s metabolic, cardiovascular, hormonal and psychological features, leading to confusion, delayed diagnosis and inadequate care that is well documented globally”.
If you are living with PCOS and feel comfortable sharing, we would like to hear about your experience, symptoms and what a name change would mean to you.
