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Online Petition Is Looking To Bring Awareness To A Vital Women's Health Issue

(PRWeb) December 6, 2006 -- 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 a 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 = $1.77 billion
•Costs from treating menstrual dysfunction/abnormal uterine bleeding associated with PCOS = $1.35 billion
•Costs from treating hirsutism (excessive hair growth), a side effect of PCOS, = $622 million. (Excess hair typically appears on the face and extremities, while hair on the head thins.)
•Costs from providing infertility care for PCOS patients = $533 million

These costs are compared to the costs of the initial evaluation of PCOS, which are estimated at $93 million

Additionally, because PCOS can cause some many physical and emotional complications, it is important for early detection, treatment and support. Chrisy Wise of Georgia agrees, "I started showing signs at a very young age and went undiagnosed for many years. As a young girl, it was very hard when doctor after doctor kept telling me nothing was wrong! Now, I know all the symptoms together equal pcos."

Thankfully this petition is not only raising awareness and gaining support with over 4500 signatures, it is giving women, their families and supporters of PCOS awareness a voice, a strong voice that will hopefully incite, inspire and invoke change for better health, treatment and support of this syndrome.

Mrs. Tabeling hopes to reach over 20,000 signatures by the end of January, so she may begin to lobby legislators on behalf of the PCOS Community. "I can not sit idle while I know there are millions of women and girls whose lives can be significantly altered and/or shortened, unnecessarily!.", says Mrs. Tabeling. She goes onto say, "This is not just my issue or an issue for women with PCOS. This is a woman's health issue that needs support from everyone regardless of age, gender or political alliance." Hopefully others will agree and will help by signing on for change between now and the end of January!

If you would like to support better awareness, diagnosis and treatment of PCOS please visit the online petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/pcosweb1/petition.html

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