Press Release Summary = An online petition urging legislative leaders
to recognize
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is now giving women, girls and
supporters of better
healthcare for PCOS a voice.
Press Release Body = Up to 10% of women and girls worldwide have
polycystic
ovary syndrome (PCOS), a complex hormonal disorder for which
there is no cure. If left
untreated PCOS can be a precursor to many life threatening conditions
including type
II diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney
problems. This
means PCOS contributes to some of the leading causes of death and
disability in
women today!
Although the statistics and implications are staggering,
the syndrome, diagnosed as
Stein Leventhal Syndrome over 75 years ago, often is still misdiagnosed,
undiagnosed
and/or misunderstood. That is why PCOS Awareness Advocate Ashley
Tabeling, is
aggressively campaigning for more awareness, exposure and education
for PCOS
(Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ). For Ashley who was diagnosed with
PCOS in 1999, PCOS
Awareness has played a key role in helping her learn to live and
deal with
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Ashley says, "PCOS Awareness has to happen
now to ensure
women and girls do not have to go through another day, month or
year of silent
suffering and to ensure they are educated on how to live a healthier
life with this
syndrome."
What PCOS is, and what it does to women who have
it, is complicated to explain as
symptoms and severity of the syndrome can vary from person to person.
Some of the
classic symptoms are drastic weight gain, hair loss, depression,
fatigue, thyroid
problems, high cholesterol, panic attacks, headaches, dizzy spells,
poor memory or
muddled mind, sleeping disorders, constant thirst, extreme cravings,
insulin
resistance, cystic acne, cystic ovaries, menstrual cycles without
ovulation,
irregular cycles, severe mood swings, high testosterone levels,
infertility
problems, excess facial and body hair, not to mention a seven times
greater risk
than an average woman for four major health concerns affecting women
in the United
States today including heart disease, diabetes, endometrial cancer
and stroke.
Now women who have spent their lives trying to come to terms with
living with and
understanding PCOS are asking for change, awareness and support
by signing on to The
PCOS Treatment and Awareness Petition which has recently been added
to
petitiononline.com http://www.petitiononline.com/pcosweb1/petition.html
Along with adding their signatures women, girls, families and supporters
have been
expressing the reasons why more involvement from medical professionals,
insurance
companies and the government are important. Women like Jean Murphy
of New Hampshire address some of the many reasons why this petition
is important. She states, "I run support group for women with PCOS.
I would like the House and Senate leaders to
address the insurance companies so they will recognize and pay for
not only treatment but complications of this syndrome. Diabetes,
heart disease and cancer is costing the insurance company in unnecessary
expenses if they would just pay for diagnosis and treatment of symptoms
and also the costs of infertility caused by PCOS."
In fact, the Endocrine Society recently released information regarding
the cost of
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. According to the Endocrine Society, screening
for PCOS
may reduce the overall economic burden associated with the condition.
Following are
highlights from the study:
. Costs from PCOS-associated diabetes
Web Site = http://www.petitiononline.com/pcosweb1/petition.html
2025
