[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 158 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 384--RECOGNIZING THE SERIOUSNESS OF POLYCYSTIC OVARY 
SYNDROME (PCOS) AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF SEPTEMBER 
                    2023 AS ``PCOS AWARENESS MONTH''

  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:

                              S. Res. 384

       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 2021 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--
       (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;
       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
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes polycystic ovary syndrome (referred to in 
     this resolution as ``PCOS'') as a serious disorder that 
     impacts many aspects of health, including cardiometabolic, 
     reproductive, and mental health, and quality of life;
       (2) expresses support for the designation of September 2023 
     as ``PCOS Awareness Month'';
       (3) supports the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness Month, 
     which are--
       (A) to increase awareness of, and education about, PCOS and 
     its connection to comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, 
     endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, nonalcoholic 
     fatty liver disease, and mental health disorders, among the 
     general public, women, girls, and health care professionals;
       (B) to improve diagnosis and treatment of PCOS;
       (C) to disseminate information on diagnosis, treatment, and 
     management of PCOS, including prevention of comorbidities 
     such as type 2 diabetes, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular 
     disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and eating 
     disorders; and
       (D) to improve quality of life and outcomes for women and 
     girls with PCOS;
       (4) recognizes the need for further research, improved 
     treatment and care options, and a cure for PCOS;
       (5) acknowledges the struggles affecting all women and 
     girls who have PCOS in the United States;
       (6) urges medical researchers and health care professionals 
     to advance their understanding of PCOS to improve research, 
     diagnosis, and treatment of PCOS for women and girls; and
       (7) encourages States, territories, and localities to 
     support the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness Month.

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