III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 317 

Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of September 2019 as ‘‘PCOS 

Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 

Ms. WARREN (for herself, Mr. PERDUE, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Mrs. FISCHER, Mr. ISAKSON, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. BOOKER, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. PETERS, and Ms. ROSEN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome 

(PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of 

September 2019 as ‘‘PCOS Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas polycystic ovary syndrome (in this preamble referred 

to as ‘‘PCOS’’) is a common health problem among 

women and girls involving a hormonal imbalance; 

Whereas there is no universal definition of PCOS, but researchers estimate that between 5,000,000 and 

10,000,000 women in the United States are affected by 

the condition; 

Whereas, according to a 2004 study, the annual burden of 

PCOS in the United States is an estimated 


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•SRES 317 IS 

$4,360,000,000, and this figure pertains to only the reproductive years of women and does not consider the cost 

of other comorbidities, including obstetrical complications, or the cost of metabolic morbidities in post-menopause or adolescence; 

Whereas PCOS can affect girls at the onset of puberty and 

throughout the remainder of their lives; 

Whereas the symptoms of PCOS include infertility, irregular 

or absent menstrual periods, acne, weight gain, thinning 

of scalp hair, excessive facial and body hair growth, numerous small ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, and mental 

health problems; 

Whereas women with PCOS have higher rates of psychosocial 

disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, 

and eating disorders, and are at greater risk for suicide; 

Whereas adolescents with PCOS often are not diagnosed, and 

many have metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance, 

which can lead to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, 

obstructive sleep apnea, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, 

and endometrial cancer at a young adult age; 

Whereas PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility; 

Whereas PCOS in pregnancy is associated with increased risk 

of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced 

hypertension, preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, miscarriage, and fetal and infant death; 

Whereas women with PCOS are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, and 

heart disease (the leading cause of death among women); 


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Whereas women with PCOS have a more than 50 percent 

chance of developing type 2 diabetes or prediabetes before the age of 40; 

Whereas women with PCOS may be at a higher risk for 

breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and their risk for developing endometrial cancer is 3 times higher than 

women who do not have PCOS; 

Whereas research has found genetic evidence of a causal link 

between depression and PCOS; 

Whereas research has indicated PCOS shares a genetic architecture with metabolic traits, as evidenced by genetic correlations between PCOS and obesity, fasting insulin, type 

2 diabetes, lipid levels, and coronary artery disease; 

Whereas adolescents with PCOS are at markedly increased 

risk for type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and heart disease; 

Whereas PCOS negatively alters metabolic function independent of, but exacerbated by, an increased body mass 

index (BMI); 

Whereas an estimated 50 percent of women with PCOS are 

undiagnosed, and many remain undiagnosed until they 

experience fertility difficulties or develop type 2 diabetes 

or other cardiometabolic disorders; 

Whereas the cause of PCOS is unknown, but researchers 

have found strong links to a genetic predisposition and 

significant insulin resistance, which affects up to 70 percent of women with PCOS; and 

Whereas there is no known cure for PCOS: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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1 (1) recognizes polycystic ovary syndrome (in 

2 this resolution referred to as ‘‘PCOS’’) as a serious 

3 disorder that impacts many aspects of health, in4 cluding cardiometabolic, reproductive, and mental 

5 health, and quality of life; 

6 (2) expresses support for the designation of 

7 September 2019 as ‘‘PCOS Awareness Month’’; 

8 (3) supports the goals and ideals of PCOS 

9 Awareness Month, which are— 

10 (A) to increase awareness of, and edu11 cation about, PCOS and its connection to 

12 comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, 

13 endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, non14 alcoholic fatty liver disease, and mental health 

15 disorders, among the general public, women, 

16 girls, and health care professionals; 

17 (B) to improve diagnosis and treatment of 

18 PCOS; 

19 (C) to disseminate information on diag20 nosis, treatment, and management of PCOS, 

21 including prevention of comorbidities such as 

22 type 2 diabetes, endometrial cancer, cardio23 vascular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver dis24 ease, and eating disorders; and 


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1 (D) to improve quality of life and outcomes 

2 for women and girls with PCOS; 

3 (4) recognizes the need for further research, 

4 improved treatment and care options, and a cure for 

5 PCOS; 

6 (5) acknowledges the struggles affecting all 

7 women and girls afflicted with PCOS in the United 

8 States; 

9 (6) urges medical researchers and health care 

10 professionals to advance their understanding of 

11 PCOS to improve research, diagnosis, and treatment 

12 of PCOS for women and girls; and 

13 (7) encourages States, territories, and localities 

14 to support the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness 

15 Month. 

Æ 


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