‘Unprecedented’ global effort gives new name to polycystic ovary syndrome – and new hope to millions of women

Maddy Mavrikis, from Sydney, was one of 300 readers to share the story of their PCOS – now known as PMOS – diagnoses with Guardian Australia. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

After more than a decade of global consultation, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – a condition that affects one in eight women – has been renamed.

The hormonal disorder, estimated to affect 170 million women worldwide, will now be known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).