MEDIA RELEASE
Sunday, 6 September 2008
PCOS funding great news for Australian women’s health
“The allocation of more than $1 million to address Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
by the Rudd Government is great news for Australian women,” said Professor Helena
Teede, director of research for the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health.
PCOS is a debilitating condition affecting 11% of Australian women of reproductive age
and 21% of indigenous women.
The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health has taken the lead, supported by the key
community association POSAA, in forming the National Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Alliance. The Alliance is comprised of national leaders from research, clinical and
community sectors and aims to strengthen collaborations between these key groups.
The Foundation has worked closely with Minister Roxon and the Department, and the
Australian Government will now provide $1,134,000 over three years to fund the
National PCOS Alliance to provide education, facilitate research and optimise evidence-
based health care relating to PCOS.
“We applaud Minister Roxon’s recognition of the important contribution the National
PCOS Alliance can make to both women’s health and the preventive health agenda in
Australia,” said Prof Teede.
“PCOS has been poorly understood in the past, leading many women to suffer delays in
diagnosis, and sub-optimal treatment,” she said. “Now that we do know more about the
most effective treatment and management it’s vital that we get this information out to
women and their healthcare practitioners.”
Australian research shows that 89% of women with PCOS saw more than one health
professional before their diagnosis was made, 49% took greater than six months to have a
diagnosis confirmed and 41% were very dissatisfied with the manner in which they were
informed of their diagnosis.
Nearly 62% of women were not given educational resources after their diagnosis.
Furthermore, little information is given about lifestyle management or complications of
PCOS even though 57% of women were confident their lifestyle management will
improve their condition.
Although the answers are emerging from research, they have not yet translated into
practice. International consensus and guidelines on PCOS are limited. The first task for
the National PCOS Alliance is the development of the first national, and in many areas,
first international evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and care of women with
PCOS.
The funding will also support the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health, in
collaboration with the Alliance, to undertake a comprehensive education program for
women and healthcare practitioners to ensure implementation of the guidelines. Recent
needs analysis found that PCOS was the number one women’s health condition on which
GPs requested further information.
“Because of our internationally recognised researchers and clinicians in PCOS,
and
Australia’s professional and proactive PCOS support group POSAA, Australia is in a
prime position to take international leadership in the development of clear guidelines,
evidence-based research and education for women, healthcare providers and the broader
community,” said Prof Teede.
“The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health is very proud to facilitate this initiative
and looks forward to working with the Alliance, POSAA and the Government to improve
the health of Australian women.”
For more information, or to arrange an interview with Professor Teede and women
affected by PCOS, please contact:
Aleeza Zohar 0425758729
BACKGROUND
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS):
PCOS is a combination of features, which
can include polycystic ovaries (multiple
follicles on the ovaries), high levels of the androgen hormones (including testosterone),
acne, excess body and facial hair, scalp balding, obesity, menstrual irregularity and
infertility.
Prevalence: PCOS is one of the commonest conditions in Australian women
affecting 11% of reproductive-aged women¹. The prevalence of PCOS will likely
increase in line with the increasing prevalence of obesity in Australia.
In indigenous Australian women the prevalence is 21%².
PCOS is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility, 26% of infertility
requiring IVF therapy is PCOS related. Once pregnant, PCOS places women at
higher risk of pregnancy-related diabetes and pregnancy complications.
1
Azziz R, Carmina E, Dewailly D, Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Escobar-Morreale HF, Futterweit W, Janssen OE, Legro RS, Norman RJ,
Taylor AE, Witchel SF 2006 Position statement: criteria for defining polycystic ovary syndrome as a predominantly hyperandrogenic
syndrome: an Androgen Excess Society guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 91:4237-4245
2
Davis SR, Knight S, White V, Claridge C, Davis BJ, Bell R 2002 Preliminary indication of a high prevalence of polycystic ovary
syndrome in indigenous Australian women. Gynecol Endocrinol 16:443-446
Other
important long-term implications include a 4-7 fold increased risk of
diabetes, increased cardiovascular risk
factors and increased cardiovascular
disease.
Challenges to feminine identity and body image due to obesity, acne and excess
hair compromise quality of life in women with PCOS, and social stigmas around
symptoms impact advocacy.
Increased rates of depression and anxiety.
The economic burden of PCOS is approximately $400 million per year in
Australia (anovulation 31%, infertility 12% and PCOS related DM2 40% of total
costs), representing a major health and economic burden. An economic evaluation
has advocated PCOS screening and early management justified by the potential to
ameliorate or prevent serious sequalae including infertility and diabetes³.
National Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Alliance
The PCOS Australian Alliance will provide leadership and cohesion to promote education,
health promotion and research,
and support consistent, evidence based multidisciplinary
service provision, supported by the Foundation. This will involve cross sector
collaborations, community partnerships and interactions with government and policy makers
aimed at prevention, and management of PCOS within Australia.
Development of Evidence Based Guidelines
Funding for this component will be used to:
Provide secretariat support for the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association of
Australia (POSAA) and the National PCOS Alliance;
Engage with key stakeholders;
Establish clinical questions, comprehensively research evidence and develop
guidelines based on expert opinion and consumer input, as well as ensure
government, health professionals and community are aware of the guidelines;
Project management and capacity to promote research into PCOS;
Provide senior academic clinician leadership to engage stakeholders and disseminate
findings;
Provide printing, media and communication resources; and
Provide venue hire and catering for an annual meeting of the National PCOS
Alliance.
National PCOS Education Initiative
The National PCOS Education Initiative will be undertaken by the Jean Hailes
Foundation for Women’s Health in collaboration with the Alliance and will focus on the
translation, communication and dissemination of evidence based information on PCOS to
3
Azziz R, Marin C, Hoq L, Badamgarav E, Song P 2005 Health care-related economic burden of the polycystic ovary syndrome during
the reproductive life span. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:4650-4658
government, health practitioners and consumers.
Funding for this initiative will enable:
Clinical leadership to oversee and contribute to education and translation strategies,
liaise with POSAA, the PCOS Alliance and key stakeholders;
Coordination, development of resources, rollout of community and health
professionals seminar, ongoing update of website content;
Website development;
Social marketing, dissemination of information and results through the media;
Engagement of a psychologist and general practitioner, translation services,
development of a health promotion package and associated educational tools, and
presentation to key stakeholders, health professionals and the community.
The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health
The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health is a non-profit organisation which aims
to promote the health and wellbeing of Australian women from adolescence and beyond,
with a particular focus on midlife and older women.
The Foundation links research, clinical care and education in assisting women to be
responsible health consumers and make healthy choices. It also assists health care
professionals in the prevention, early detection and management of disease.
The Vision of the Foundation: We believe in physical and emotional health and
wellbeing in all its dimensions for all Australian women throughout their lives with a
strong focus on prevention.
The Foundation is national and is based in Clayton, Victoria and is affiliated with
Monash University and Southern Health.
NEWS 
