IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 146 

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

as ‘‘PCOS Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 25, 2019 

Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia (for himself, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. 

HURD of Texas, Mr. CONNOLLY, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. 

MCKINLEY, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. PETERS, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. LOFGREN, Miss GONZA ́LEZCOLO ́N of Puerto Rico, Mr. BROWN of Maryland, Mr. PETERSON, Ms. 

MOORE, Ms. NORTON, Mr. TED LIEU of California, Ms. BROWNLEY of 

California, Mr. POCAN, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. LEWIS, 

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. SPEIER, Ms. 

CLARKE of New York, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. EVANS, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Ms. 

SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. VAN DREW, Ms. KUSTER of New 

Hampshire, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. 

CISNEROS, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mrs. 

MCBATH, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. COHEN, Mr. 

PAYNE, Mr. RYAN, Mr. YARMUTH, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. SEAN PATRICK

MALONEY of New York, Mr. MCGOVERN, and Mrs. BEATTY) 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 2019 as ‘‘PCOS Awareness 

Month’’. 


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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, and prevalence estimates range from 8 to 13 percent of women 

globally; 

Whereas the most recent published data, a 2004 study, estimates the annual burden of PCOS in the United States 

is $4.36 billion, and this figure pertains to women’s reproductive years alone 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 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; 


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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); 

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 

higher risk for developing endometrial cancer compared 

to women who do not have PCOS; 

Whereas research has found genetic evidence of a causal link 

to depression in PCOS; 

Whereas research has found genetic correlations with obesity, 

fasting insulin, type 2 diabetes, lipid levels, and coronary 

artery disease, indicating shared genetic architecture between metabolic traits and PCOS; 

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, increased BMI; 

Whereas an estimated 50 percent of women with PCOS are 

undiagnosed, and many remain undiagnosed until they 


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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 House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes polycystic ovary syndrome 

3 (PCOS) as a serious disorder that impacts many as4 pects of health, including cardiometabolic, reproduc5 tive, and mental health as well as quality of life; 

6 (2) supports the goals and ideals of PCOS 

7 Awareness Month, which are to— 

8 (A) increase awareness of, and education 

9 about, PCOS and its connection to 

10 comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, 

11 endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, non12 alcoholic fatty liver disease, and mental health 

13 disorders among the general public, women, 

14 girls, and health care professionals; 

15 (B) improve diagnosis and treatment of 

16 the disorder; 

17 (C) disseminate information on PCOS di18 agnosis, treatment, and management including 

19 prevention of comorbidities such as type 2 diaVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Feb 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR146.IH HR146

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1 betes, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular dis2 ease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and eating 

3 disorders; and 

4 (D) improve quality of life and outcomes 

5 for women and girls with PCOS; 

6 (3) recognizes the need for further research, 

7 improved treatment and care options, and a cure for 

8 PCOS; 

9 (4) acknowledges the struggles affecting all 

10 women and girls afflicted with PCOS residing within 

11 the United States; 

12 (5) urges medical researchers and health care 

13 professionals to advance their understanding of 

14 PCOS in order to research, diagnose, and provide 

15 assistance to women and girls with PCOS; and 

16 (6) encourages States, territories, and localities 

17 to support the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness 

18 Month. 

Æ 


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