Polycystic ovary syndrome is now polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome after a “mammoth” 14-year Australian-led campaign to fix a century-old misnomer.

Endocrinologist Professor Helena Teede spearheaded the push for the new name, which was announced in a Lancet paper on Tuesday.

She told AusDoc the old moniker wrongly implied pathological ovarian cysts, confusing patients and fragmenting care.

“I hope this will stop women from seeing two or three people and waiting two years until they get diagnosed,” said Professor Teede, the director of the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation.