Today Congressman David Scott (GA-13) introduced H. Res. 146 to recognize the seriousness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and designate the month of September 2019 as "PCOS Awareness Month." 55 Members of the House have co-sponsored the bipartisan resolution, which represents a continued commitment to making PCOS, the most common endocrine disorder, a central focus in the 116th Congress.
"It is an honor to sponsor this historic resolution and be a champion for women and girls with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome," said Congressman Scott. "PCOS is a serious issue that affects hundreds of thousands of women in Georgia and millions more across the country. I commend the original 55 cosponsors for their leadership and hope that others in the House will join us to advance this bipartisan effort by cosponsoring and supporting this important resolution. There must be an increased focus on PCOS, which is the most common endocrine disorder. Women and families impacted by PCOS need help. This is our opportunity to make a difference, so we should act now."
Background
Researchers estimate that 5 to 10 million adolescent girls and women of reproductive age in the U.S. are affected by PCOS. As the most common cause of female infertility, PCOS currently has no cure and may also cause additional lifelong complications like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and endometrial cancer. H.Res. 146 calls for increased PCOS awareness and education among women, girls, healthcare providers, and the public; improving treatment options for women and girls with PCOS; and furthering biomedical and public health research to find a cure for PCOS.
Original cosponsors include: Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH-3); Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2); Rep. Anthony G. Brown (D-MD-4); Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA-26); Rep. Gil R. Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA-39); Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY-9); Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-9); Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA-11); Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA-53); Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-NY-16); Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA-3); Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1); Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL-11); Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI-8); Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-7); Rep. Jenniffer González Colón (R-PR-At Large); Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-3); Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large); Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA-2); Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX-3); Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18); Rep. Henry C. Johnson, Jr. (D-GA-4); Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL-2); Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8); Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH-2); Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO-5); Rep. John Lewis (D-GA-5); Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA-33); Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL-3); Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19); Rep. Patrick Maloney (D-NY-18); Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS-1); Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA-6); Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA-2); Rep. David McKinley (R-WV-1); Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI-4); Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA-6); Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14); Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-10-NJ); Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA-52); Rep. Colin Peterson (D-MN-7); Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1); Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI-2); Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8); Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH-13); Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9); Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA-28); Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA-14); Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21); Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY-3); Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS-2); Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ-2); Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-23); Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12); and Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY-3).
Leading organizations also supporting H.Res. 146 include: PCOS Challenge; American Electrology Association; Androgen Excess and PCOS Society; Endocrine Society; Hormone Health Network; National Eating Disorders Association; RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association; Society for Women's Health Research; Tinina Q. Cade Foundation; and The White Dress Project.
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