III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 384 

Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of September 2023 as ‘‘PCOS 

Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 28 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 2023 

Ms. WARREN (for herself, Mrs. FISCHER, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. PADILLA, 

Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. CARDIN, and Mrs. FEINSTEIN) 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 2023 as ‘‘PCOS 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 the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 

that between 6 and 12 percent of women in the United 

States are affected by the condition; 

Whereas, according to a 2023 study, the annual burden of 

PCOS in the United States is estimated to be in excess 

of $15,000,000,000, and this estimate does not include— 


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•SRES 384 IS 

(1) the cost of all comorbidities in post-menopause 

or adolescence; or 

(2) indirect and intangible costs related to the disorder; 

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 mental 

health 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, 

heart disease, and endometrial cancer at a young adult 

age; 

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 PCOS is one of the most common causes 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; 


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•SRES 384 IS 

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 PCOS may be associated with increased risk for 

breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and the risk of developing endometrial cancer is 4 times higher than for 

women who do not have PCOS; 

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

index (commonly referred to as ‘‘BMI’’); 

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— 

2 (1) recognizes polycystic ovary syndrome (re3 ferred to in this resolution as ‘‘PCOS’’) as a serious 

4 disorder that impacts many aspects of health, inVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:32 Sep 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR384.IS SR384

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•SRES 384 IS 

1 cluding cardiometabolic, reproductive, and mental 

2 health, and quality of life; 

3 (2) expresses support for the designation of 

4 September 2023 as ‘‘PCOS Awareness Month’’; 

5 (3) supports the goals and ideals of PCOS 

6 Awareness Month, which are— 

7 (A) to increase awareness of, and edu8 cation about, PCOS and its connection to 

9 comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, 

10 endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, non11 alcoholic fatty liver disease, and mental health 

12 disorders, among the general public, women, 

13 girls, and health care professionals; 

14 (B) to improve diagnosis and treatment of 

15 PCOS; 

16 (C) to disseminate information on diag17 nosis, treatment, and management of PCOS, 

18 including prevention of comorbidities such as 

19 type 2 diabetes, endometrial cancer, cardio20 vascular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver dis21 ease, and eating disorders; and 

22 (D) to improve quality of life and outcomes 

23 for women and girls with PCOS; 


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•SRES 384 IS 

1 (4) recognizes the need for further research, 

2 improved treatment and care options, and a cure for 

3 PCOS; 

4 (5) acknowledges the struggles affecting all 

5 women and girls who have PCOS in the United 

6 States; 

7 (6) urges medical researchers and health care 

8 professionals to advance their understanding of 

9 PCOS to improve research, diagnosis, and treatment 

10 of PCOS for women and girls; and 

11 (7) encourages States, territories, and localities 

12 to support the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness 

13 Month. 

Æ 


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