IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 495 

Recognizing the seriousness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of the month of September 2017 

as ‘‘PCOS Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 28, 2017 

Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia (for himself, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. JACKSON LEE, 

Miss GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N of Puerto Rico, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. 

MARSHALL, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. EVANS, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Ms. NORTON, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mrs. 

WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. COHEN, 

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, 

Ms. FUDGE, and Ms. SPEIER) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the seriousness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome 

(PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of 

the month of September 2017 as ‘‘PCOS Awareness 

Month’’. 

Whereas Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (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 5 to 10 million women in the 

United States are affected by the condition; 


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Whereas PCOS can affect girls from 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, 

many of whom 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, heart 

disease (the leading cause of death among women), and 

have a 4 to 7 times higher risk of heart attack compared 

to women 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; 


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Whereas women with PCOS may be at a higher risk for 

breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and have a 3 times 

higher risk for developing endometrial cancer compared 

to women who do not have PCOS; 

Whereas up to 80 percent of women with PCOS are overweight or obese; 

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 United States healthcare system is 

over $4.3 billion a year during patients’ reproductive 

years, not including the costs associated with the treatment of any comorbidities, including diabetes, 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 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 House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the seriousness of Polycystic 

3 Ovary Syndrome (PCOS); 

4 (2) supports the goals and ideals of PCOS 

5 Awareness Month, which are to— 


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1 (A) increase awareness of, and education 

2 about, the disorder among the general public, 

3 women, girls, and healthcare professionals; 

4 (B) improve diagnosis and treatment of 

5 the disorder; 

6 (C) disseminate information on diagnosis 

7 and treatment options; and 

8 (D) improve quality of life and outcomes 

9 for women and girls with PCOS; 

10 (3) recognizes the need for further research, 

11 improved treatment and care options, and for a cure 

12 for PCOS; 

13 (4) acknowledges the struggles affecting all 

14 women and girls afflicted with PCOS residing within 

15 the United States; 

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 and ideals of PCOS Awareness 

22 Month. 

Æ 


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