Jennifer Orisakwe: PCOS Has Been Renamed To PMOS: How It Concerns You as a Nigerian Woman

In the crowded waiting rooms of Nigerian hospitals, Jennifer Orisakwe's story is not unique. Women with irregular periods, unexplained weight gain, and puzzling skin problems often find themselves at a loss for answers. The doctor's diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) might seem like a relief, a name that finally puts a label on their symptoms. But that name has now been retired, replaced by Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), after 14 years of global research. This rename is not a rebranding exercise, but a correction, one that highlights the complexities of a condition often misunderstood in Nigeria.

The old name, PCOS, implied that many cysts on the ovaries were the root cause of the condition. But research has shown that this is not the case. The "cysts" on ultrasounds are actually immature eggs that didn't complete their development cycle. Plenty of women with every symptom show perfectly normal-looking ovaries on a scan. In Nigeria, where scan results often serve as the starting and ending point for diagnoses, this misnomer has led to a lack of comprehensive understanding of the condition. Women cycle through dermatologists for acne, dietitians for weight management, and fertility specialists for infertility, without a coordinated approach because the terminology used did not imply that a whole-system hormonal problem needed to be addressed.

So, what does PMOS mean? Simply put, it breaks down to "multiple hormones involved", not just what your ovaries produce, "metabolic", this condition affects how your body processes energy, and "ovarian", the ovaries are still central, particularly around fertility and menstrual cycles. This new name is saying that PMOS is a whole-system hormonal problem, one that involves your metabolism, whether your doctor has been checking for it or not. Nigerian women who are slim are routinely told they cannot have a metabolic problem, but thinness is not the same as metabolic health.

In Nigeria, where faith is considered a tool to cure health, many women with symptoms such as irregular periods, weight gain, acne, and thinning hair often go unchecked for years. These issues are frequently attributed to stress, lifestyle choices, or genetics, one consultation at a time. When anxiety and mood shifts occur, which affect up to 39 per cent of women with this condition, the common response is to dismiss it as a minor issue or a sign of something else entirely. The renaming of PCOS to PMOS serves as a reminder that this condition requires a more nuanced understanding, one that involves both medical and spiritual approaches.

As a Nigerian writer, I'm struck by the silence surrounding this condition. How many women have been misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed because of the old name? How many have been told to simply "lose weight" or "manage stress," without being given the tools to address the root causes of their symptoms? The renaming of PCOS to PMOS is not just a correction; it's an opportunity for Nigerian women to demand more from the medical community. It's a call to action, one that requires a more comprehensive understanding of the condition and a more coordinated approach to treatment.

As the medical community continues to refine its understanding of PMOS, Nigerian women can no longer afford to be silent. We need to demand better diagnoses, better treatment options, and better support for women living with this condition. The renaming of PCOS to PMOS is a significant step in the right direction, but it's just the beginning. With this new name comes a new era of awareness and understanding, one that requires us to confront the weight of unspoken truths and demand more from ourselves and from our medical community.

• PCOS has been renamed to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)
• PMOS is a whole-system hormonal problem that involves multiple hormones and metabolism
• Nigerian women are often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed due to the old name and lack of comprehensive understanding
• Up to 39 per cent of women with PMOS experience anxiety and mood shifts
• PMOS is a significant step towards more accurate diagnoses and better treatment options for Nigerian women.