Following a decade of international research, an international team of medical experts announced in May that PCOS wordt PMOS: polyendocrien metabool ovariumsyndroom. The condition affects an estimated 170 million women worldwide, or approximately one in eight women, with as many as 70 percent unaware that they have it.
Symptoms such as acne, an irregular cycle, and stubborn extra pounds have long been associated with the condition. However, medical experts and specialists point out that the previous designation told only half the story.
Waarom de oude naam verwarring veroorzaakte
According to Lieselot Theys, an osteopath specialized in hormonal and gynecological complaints and author of the new book PMOS ontcijferd
, the former name—polycystic ovary syndrome—led to years of confusion. The older term suggested that cysts were present on the ovaries and that the core of the issue lay there. In reality, the condition involves immature follicles, which are small ovarian follicles that fail to ovulate, rather than cysts.
The disorder extends far beyond an isolated gynecological problem, involving the brain, hormones, and metabolism working together. The updated name highlights the need to examine the full picture rather than relying strictly on the contraceptive pill to suppress certain symptoms without addressing underlying problems.
Het belang van een regelmatige eisprong
Communication between the brain and ovaries is necessary to achieve ovulation. In women with PMOS, this hormonal cooperation is frequently disrupted, causing ovulation to stop. Beyond family planning, ovulation triggers the production of progesterone, a hormone linked to mood, resilience, and mental wellzijn. Factors such as insulin resistance, stress, or other hormonal issues can contribute to the condition and reinforce each other.
