Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of the month of September 2019 as "PCOS Awareness Month".

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 146 Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and ex- pressing support for the designation of the month of September 2019 as ‘‘PCOS Awareness Month’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 25, 2019 Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia (for himself, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. HURD of Texas, Mr. CONNOLLY, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. MCKINLEY, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. PETERS, Mr. LAM- BORN, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. LOFGREN, Miss GONZA´LEZ- COLO´N of Puerto Rico, Mr. BROWN of Maryland, Mr. PETERSON, Ms. MOORE, Ms. NORTON, Mr. TED LIEU of California, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mr. POCAN, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. LEWIS, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. SPEIER, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsyl- vania, Mr. EVANS, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. VAN DREW, Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. CISNEROS, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mrs. MCBATH, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. COHEN, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. RYAN, Mr. YARMUTH, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. MCGOVERN, and Mrs. BEATTY) 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 2019 as ‘‘PCOS Awareness Month’’. VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Feb 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\HR146.IH HR146 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 146 IH 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- vascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and endometrial cancer at a young adult age; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Feb 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR146.IH HR146 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 146 IH 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; Whereas an estimated 50 percent of women with PCOS are undiagnosed, and many remain undiagnosed until they VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Feb 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR146.IH HR146 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 146 IH 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 (C) disseminate information on PCOS di- 17 agnosis, treatment, and management including 18 prevention of comorbidities such as type 2 dia- 19 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Feb 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR146.IH HR146 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HRES 146 IH betes, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular dis- 1 ease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and eating 2 disorders; and 3 (D) improve quality of life and outcomes 4 for women and girls with PCOS; 5 (3) recognizes the need for further research, 6 improved treatment and care options, and a cure for 7 PCOS; 8 (4) acknowledges the struggles affecting all 9 women and girls afflicted with PCOS residing within 10 the United States; 11 (5) urges medical researchers and health care 12 professionals to advance their understanding of 13 PCOS in order to research, diagnose, and provide 14 assistance to women and girls with PCOS; and 15 (6) encourages States, territories, and localities 16 to support the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness 17 Month. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Feb 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR146.IH HR146 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS