III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 336 

Recognizing the seriousness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and expressing 

support for the designation of the month of September 2018 as ‘‘Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 16, 2017 

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

Mr. BOOKER, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, and Mr. ISAKSON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the seriousness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome 

and expressing support for the designation of the month 

of September 2018 as ‘‘Polycystic Ovary Syndrome 

Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (referred to in this preamble 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 

PCOS; 

Whereas PCOS can affect women from the onset of puberty 

and throughout the remainder of their lives; 


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•SRES 336 IS 

Whereas the symptoms of PCOS include infertility, irregular 

or absent menstrual periods, acne, weight gain, thinning 

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; 

Whereas PCOS causes 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, heart 

disease—the leading cause of death among women—and 

have a 4 to 7 times higher risk of experiencing a heart 

attack compared to women of the same age who do not 

have PCOS; 

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 have a 3 times 


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higher risk for developing endometrial cancer, compared 

to women who do not have PCOS; 

Whereas up to 80 percent of women in the United States 

with PCOS are overweight or have obesity; 

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 costs involved with the diagnosis and management of PCOS to the healthcare system of the United 

States is over $4,300,000,000 per year during the reproductive years of patients; 

Whereas that amount does not include the costs associated 

with the treatment of comorbidities, including high blood 

pressure, sleep apnea, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, 

cardiovascular disease, obesity, and cancer; 

Whereas the cause of PCOS is unknown, but researchers 

have found strong links to significant insulin resistance, 

which affects up to 70 percent of women with PCOS, and 

genetic predisposition; and 

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

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the seriousness of Polycystic 

3 Ovary Syndrome (referred to in this resolving clause 

4 as ‘‘PCOS’’); 

5 (2) supports the goals of PCOS Awareness 

6 Month— 


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•SRES 336 IS 

1 (A) to increase awareness of, and edu2 cation about, PCOS among the general public, 

3 women, girls, and healthcare professionals; 

4 (B) to improve diagnosis and treatment of 

5 PCOS; 

6 (C) to disseminate information on diag7 nosis and treatment options for PCOS; and 

8 (D) to improve the quality of life and out9 comes for women and girls with PCOS; 

10 (3) recognizes the need for further research, 

11 improved treatment and care options, and a cure for 

12 PCOS; 

13 (4) acknowledges the struggles affecting all 

14 women and girls residing within the United States 

15 who are afflicted with PCOS; 

16 (5) urges medical researchers and healthcare 

17 professionals to advance their understanding of 

18 PCOS in order to research, diagnose, and provide 

19 assistance to women and girls with PCOS; and 

20 (6) encourages States, territories, and localities 

21 to support the goals of PCOS Awareness Month. 

Æ 


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