III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 781 

Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of September 2022 as ‘‘PCOS 

Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 

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

Mr. BOOKER, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. CARDIN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. 

LANKFORD, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. PADILLA, Mr. RUBIO, 

Ms. STABENOW, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, and Mr. WARNOCK) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome 

(PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of 

September 2022 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 researchers estimate that between 8 and 12 percent of 

women in the United States are affected by the condition; 

Whereas, according to a 2021 study, the annual burden of 

PCOS in the United States is estimated to be 

$8,000,000,000, and this estimate does not include— 


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•SRES 781 ATS 

(1) the economic burden of mental health disorders 

associated with PCOS; 

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

(3) the cost of comorbidities 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 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, 

and endometrial cancer at a young adult age; 

Whereas PCOS is a 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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•SRES 781 ATS 

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 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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•SRES 781 ATS 

1 (1) recognizes polycystic ovary syndrome (re2 ferred to in this resolution 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 2022 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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•SRES 781 ATS 

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 who have 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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