IV
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. RES. 175
Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and ex-
pressing support for the designation of the month of September as
‘‘PCOS Awareness Month’’.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY27, 2025
Mr. D
AVIDSCOTTof Georgia (for himself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms.
W
ASSERMANSCHULTZ, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. BACON, Ms. BARRAGA´N,
Mr. B
OYLEof Pennsylvania, Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Ms. CHU,
Mr. C
OHEN, Mrs. WATSONCOLEMAN, Mr. CONNOLLY, Ms. OCASIO-COR-
TEZ, Ms. DEANof Pennsylvania, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. FOSTER, Mrs.
H
AYES, Mr. JOHNSONof Georgia, Mr. LARSONof Connecticut, Ms.
M
CBRIDE, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mrs. MCIVER, Ms. MENG, Ms. MOOREof
Wisconsin, Mr. M
ULLIN, Ms. NORTON, Mr. POCAN, Ms. STANSBURY, Ms.
S
EWELL, Ms. TITUS, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. CLARKEof New York, and
Mr. T
ONKO) 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 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 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 women
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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, esti-
mates the annual burden of PCOS in the United States
is $4,360,000,000, 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, 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
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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, 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 be-
fore 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 be-
tween metabolic traits and PCOS;
Whereas adolescents with PCOS are at markedly increased
risk for type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and heart dis-
ease;
Whereas PCOS negatively alters metabolic function inde-
pendent of, but exacerbated by, increased 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
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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
(1) recognizes polycystic ovary syndrome 2
(PCOS) as a serious disorder that impacts many as-3
pects of health, including cardiometabolic, reproduc-4
tive, and mental health as well as quality of life; 5
(2) supports the goals and ideals of PCOS 6
Awareness Month, which are to— 7
(A) increase awareness of, and education 8
about, PCOS and its connection to 9
comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, 10
endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, non-11
alcoholic fatty liver disease, and mental health 12
disorders among the general public, women, 13
girls, and health care professionals; 14
(B) improve diagnosis and treatment of 15
the disorder; 16
(C) disseminate information on PCOS di-17
agnosis, treatment, and management including 18
prevention of comorbidities such as type 2 dia-19
betes, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular dis-20
ease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and eating 21
disorders; and 22
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(D) improve quality of life and outcomes 1
for women and girls with PCOS; 2
(3) recognizes the need for further research, 3
improved treatment and care options, and a cure for 4
PCOS; 5
(4) acknowledges the struggles affecting all 6
women and girls afflicted with PCOS residing within 7
the United States; 8
(5) urges medical researchers and health care 9
professionals to advance their understanding of 10
PCOS in order to research, diagnose, and provide 11
assistance to women and girls with PCOS; and 12
(6) encourages States, territories, and localities 13
to support the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness 14
Month. 15
Æ
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