Health Care-Related Economic Burden of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome During the Reproductive Life Span
August 2005
in “
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
”
TLDR Polycystic ovary syndrome costs the U.S. over $4 billion a year, mainly from treating related health issues.
The document from 2005 estimates the economic burden of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in reproductive-aged women in the United States to be over $4 billion annually. The costs are primarily due to the treatment of associated conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), menstrual dysfunction/abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), infertility, and hirsutism. The study suggests that widespread screening for PCOS could be cost-effective, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and intervention, and reducing the economic burden. The document emphasizes that the costs calculated are conservative estimates and may be higher due to long-term morbidities associated with PCOS that emerge after the reproductive years.