Res. No. 509
Resolution declaring May 12 as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness Day in the City of New York in recognition of the name change from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome to a name that more accurately reflects the condition
By Council Members Williams, Cabán, Hanif, Hanks, Won, Maloney, Farías, Morano, Hankerson, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Epstein, Encarnación and Riley
Whereas, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder where higher than average androgen levels and other hormonal imbalances result in excess hair growth, infertility, irregular periods, and abnormal ovulation in women ages 15 and up; and
Whereas, On May 12, 2026, the Lancet medical journal published an article advocating for a name change from PCOS to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS); and
Whereas, Lancet issued the recommendation based upon input from over 50 leading patient, academic, and clinical organizations, in addition to feedback from over 14,000 women diagnosed with PCOS; and
Whereas, The publishing of the Lancet journal article led to the condition officially being renamed to PMOS to more accurately reflect the nature of the syndrome and in the hopes that it would improve understanding of the condition and women’s treatment and diagnoses; and
Whereas, According to the Association for American Medical Colleges, medical science has historically considered women’s bodies to be atypical leading to women often being underrepresented in medical research; and
Whereas, A 2022 study from Contemporary Clinical Trials found that in clinical trials for three diseases that most affect women, women only accounted for around 40 percent of the participants; and
Whereas, A 2025 article from the Society for Women’s Health Research noted that PCOS is one of the many under-researched women’s health conditions where underfunding has led to insufficient knowledge on the condition; and
Whereas, Due to a lack of medical understanding, the original name was limiting, reflecting a narrow focus on ovaries and a misunderstanding about ovarian cysts, which medical experts have found are not a feature of the condition; and
Whereas, Endocrinologist Dr. Rekha Kumar noted that the original name, PCOS, obscured the broad endocrine (hormone release system) and metabolic features of the condition; and
Whereas, The previous PCOS misunderstanding has often contributed to missed or delayed diagnoses, inadequate treatment, and stigma, in addition to hindering research and policy surrounding PMOS; and
Whereas, Because the original name emphasized ovaries as the primary issue, women who received a normal ultrasound were often misdiagnosed or left undiagnosed, for example; and
Whereas, Delayed or missed diagnoses can increase a woman’s chances of infertility, endometrial cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heightened long-term risk for insulin resistance; and
Whereas, The American Medical Association states that PCOS affects as many as one in eight women, age 15 and older, in the U.S but as many as 70 percent of PCOS cases remain undiagnosed; and
Whereas, New York State has placed an emphasis on raising awareness about the seriousness of PCOS and the need for more research on the condition by recognizing September as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month; and
Whereas, Changing the name to PMOS more accurately reflects the syndrome as a multisystem, full-body condition, as well as its hormonal complexity; and
Whereas, Given that the Centers for Disease Control has found that PMOS is a lifelong health condition, renaming the syndrome to PMOS is a step in the right direction to closing the gap in research, funding, diagnostic delays, and treatment; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York declares May 12 as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness Day in the City of New York in recognition of the name change from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome to a name that more accurately reflects the condition.
MJG
LS #24273
6/3/2026