IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 495 
Recognizing the seriousness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and ex-
pressing 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 Wash-
ington, 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 hor-
monal imbalance; 
Whereas there is no universal definition of PCOS, but re-
searchers estimate that 5 to 10 million women in the 
United States are affected by the condition; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:30 Jul 29, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR495.IH
HR495
dlhill on DSKBC4BHB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 495 IH 
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, nu-
merous 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 re-
sistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, cardio-
vascular 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 infer-
tility; 
Whereas PCOS in pregnancy is associated with increased risk 
of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced 
hypertension, preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, mis-
carriage, and fetal and infant death; 
Whereas women with PCOS are at increased risk of devel-
oping 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 be-
fore the age of 40; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:30 Jul 29, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR495.IH
HR495
dlhill on DSKBC4BHB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 495 IH 
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 over-
weight 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 manage-
ment 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 treat-
ment 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 per-
cent of women with PCOS; and 
Whereas there is no known cure for PCOS: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the seriousness of Polycystic 
Ovary Syndrome (PCOS); 
(2) supports the goals and ideals of PCOS 
Awareness Month, which are to— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:30 Jul 29, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR495.IH
HR495
dlhill on DSKBC4BHB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 495 IH 
(A) increase awareness of, and education 
about, the disorder among the general public, 
women, girls, and healthcare professionals; 
(B) improve diagnosis and treatment of 
the disorder; 
(C) disseminate information on diagnosis 
and treatment options; and 
(D) improve quality of life and outcomes 
for women and girls with PCOS; 
(3) recognizes the need for further research, 
improved treatment and care options, and for a cure 
for PCOS; 
(4) acknowledges the struggles affecting all 
women and girls afflicted with PCOS residing within 
the United States; 
(5) urges medical researchers and healthcare 
professionals to advance their understanding of 
PCOS in order to research, diagnose, and provide 
assistance to women and girls with PCOS; and 
(6) encourages States, territories, and localities 
to support the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness 
Month. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:30 Jul 29, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR495.IH
HR495
dlhill on DSKBC4BHB2PROD with BILLS