India, May 13 -- Around 1 in 5 young Indian women are affected by what was earlier called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). But doctors and researchers have now started using a new name: Polycystic Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). The change came about after a 14-year global effort, led by Monash University, to improve diagnosis and care. The updated name was published in the medical journal The Lancet.

The old name focused too much on "cysts" in the ovaries. But experts say these are not actually cysts. They are tiny egg follicles that did not fully develop or release. The new name also highlights that the condition is not only about periods or fertility. It affects the body's metabolism too, including insulin levels, weight, heart he...