Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of the month of September 2021 as "PCOS Awareness Month".

IV 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 471 Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and ex- pressing support for the designation of the month of September 2021 as ‘‘PCOS Awareness Month’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 11, 2021 Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia (for himself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Miss GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. CHU, Mr. COHEN, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. GALLEGO, Ms. HOULAHAN, Mr. JONES, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, Mr. LIEU, Ms. MANNING, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. NORTON, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mrs. HAYES, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. COLE, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. TIMMONS, Mr. TRONE, Ms. ROSS, Ms. SCANLON, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Mr. YARMUTH, Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. HICE of Georgia, Mr. LAMBORN, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. MCKIN- LEY, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. VARGAS, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Ms. MCCOL- LUM, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Mr. POCAN, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. RASKIN, Ms. JACOBS of Cali- fornia, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. GARBARINO, Mr. LEVIN of California, Mr. SIRES, Mrs. AXNE, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. CARSON, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. TONKO, Mrs. HARTZLER, Mrs. LAWRENCE, Mrs. MCBATH, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. KIM of New Jersey, Ms. ROYBAL- ALLARD, Mr. VELA, Mr. WESTERMAN, Mr. GALLAGHER, Ms. SALAZAR, Mr. ALLEN, Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma, Ms. BROWNLEY, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. PINGREE, Ms. PRESSLEY, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Ms. NEWMAN, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, and Mr. CRIST) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:07 Jun 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\HR471.IH HR471 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 471 IH (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of the month of September 2021 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, and preva- lence 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 $4.36 billion, and this figure pertains to women’s re- productive 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- VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:07 Jun 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR471.IH HR471 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 471 IH 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, 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:07 Jun 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR471.IH HR471 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 471 IH 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 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:07 Jun 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR471.IH HR471 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HRES 471 IH (C) disseminate information on PCOS di- 1 agnosis, treatment, and management including 2 prevention of comorbidities such as type 2 dia- 3 betes, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular dis- 4 ease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and eating 5 disorders; and 6 (D) improve quality of life and outcomes 7 for women and girls with PCOS; 8 (3) recognizes the need for further research, 9 improved treatment and care options, and a cure for 10 PCOS; 11 (4) acknowledges the struggles affecting all 12 women and girls afflicted with PCOS residing within 13 the United States; 14 (5) urges medical researchers and health care 15 professionals to advance their understanding of 16 PCOS in order to research, diagnose, and provide 17 assistance to women and girls with PCOS; and 18 (6) encourages States, territories, and localities 19 to support the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness 20 Month. 21 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:07 Jun 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR471.IH HR471 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS