PCOS Challenge and Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority Answer Call of the U.S. Congress to Help Fight Women's Health Epidemic

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PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association

Sep 01, 2017, 07:45 ET

ATLANTA, Sept. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Answering the call of the U.S. Congress and taking a leadership role in addressing one of the most neglected areas of health, PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association, Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority and an elite group of healthcare leaders and patient advocates are gathering in Atlanta on September 16-17^th for PCOS Awareness Weekend, the largest event dedicated to patient and healthcare-provider education as well as raising awareness and funds to help fight polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Recently, H.Res.495, the historic and bipartisan resolution about PCOS, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman David Scott (GA-13) and 20 other leaders in the House. H.Res.495 designates the month of September as PCOS Awareness Month and recognizes the seriousness of the disorder, the need for further research, and improved treatment and care options for women and girls with PCOS.

PCOS is a genetic, hormonal, metabolic and reproductive disorder that affects up to fifteen percent of women in the U.S. and hundreds of millions globally. It is one of the most critical, under-diagnosed and underfunded areas of health, which can lead to lifelong complications, infertility, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

"September is PCOS Awareness Month. We are grateful to the many members of Congress and state governments who now recognize the seriousness of PCOS and to Omega Phi Alpha for hosting PCOS Awareness Weekend," says Sasha Ottey, Executive Director of PCOS Challenge, the leading support organization for women and girls with PCOS. "For too long, the calls for help by millions of women and girls affected by PCOS have gone unanswered. PCOS is leading to major health problems that could be prevented if identified and addressed early. 50 to 70 percent of women and girls with PCOS are going undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Our organization is seeing far too many women who were never diagnosed with PCOS until their 40s and 50s, or who were never told about the associated health risks, and are now battling diabetes, heart disease and cancer. There are serious and systemic problems in healthcare regarding PCOS diagnosis, treatment and support. There is an urgent need to address PCOS to help improve and save lives. It is time that we make PCOS a public-health priority!"

PCOS Awareness Weekend is presented by PCOS Challenge and hosted by Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority. The weekend's events at Georgia Tech in Atlanta include the PCOS Awareness Symposium on Saturday, September 16^th and the Bolt for PCOS 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, September 17^th. The PCOS symposium features world-leading experts on PCOS. The event brings together clinicians, researchers, hundreds of PCOS patients and their supporters for a day of sharing experiences, insights and the latest research about the condition. Bolt for PCOS is the largest event in the U.S. dedicated to raising awareness and funds to help fight polycystic ovary syndrome. Proceeds from the Bolt for PCOS event will go toward PCOS education, research, health screening, grant and support programs, as well as increasing awareness and public support for those with the condition.

Ashley Brady, President of Omega Phi Alpha at Nu Chapter (Georgia Tech), says, "We are extremely honored as a sisterhood to do our part in supporting women with PCOS by partnering with PCOS Challenge and hosting the PCOS Awareness Weekend here at Georgia Tech. The sisters of Omega Phi Alpha started the Bolt for PCOS 5K Run/Walk to raise awareness for a cause that resides close to us. We have alumni and current sisters who struggle with PCOS, and we have made it a priority to raise awareness for the condition. The Bolt 5K event was created to spread awareness and to raise funds to help in the fight against PCOS. Through our passion for service, we are fortunate to be able to help others affected by the disorder."

PCOS Awareness Weekend sponsors include LiSA Initiative, American Electrology Association, Theralogix Reproductive Health, Georgia Reproductive Specialists, LumaRx, PCOS Nutrition Center, Dr. Fiona McCulloch, Reproductive Biology Associates, Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine, Camellia Alise, The Baron Solution Group and Fairhaven Health.

For more information about the PCOS Awareness Weekend, registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit http://www.pcoschallenge.org/register.

Media Contact:
William Patterson
404-855-7244

SOURCE PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association