PCOS Challenge Creates Television Show to Help Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

LAUREL, MD, August 25, 2010 (Press-News.org) In 2009, social entrepreneur Sasha Ottey left her full-time job as a microbiologist to start PCOS Challenge, Inc., a nonprofit support organization that is improving the lives of thousands of women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder that affects multiple systems in the female body. It is estimated to impact one-in-ten women of childbearing age.

Ottey started PCOS Challenge after her own diagnosis in 2008. "My diagnosis left me devastated," Ottey explains. "After a lot of time searching for more information and support, I found few answers and very limited help. At that point, I had two choices: give up or use this as an opportunity to make a difference."

Addressing the significant gap in the quality of information and resources available to women with PCOS, their supporters, and health care professionals, PCOS Challenge has grown to more than 6,000 members in just over a year. The organization is innovative in its multimedia approach to support. Its website, PCOSChallenge.com has been called the "Facebook for women with PCOS" by its members, and its popular radio show features internationally recognized PCOS experts, New York Times best-selling authors, and real life stories from women with PCOS. The organization also provides offline support networks, webinars, and educational products.

In a bold new step, Ottey's organization is producing a thirteen-episode television series, PCOS Challenge, to help spread awareness and bring needed support to the PCOS community. The show follows ten women with PCOS as they have their lives transformed by naturopathic and allopathic medical experts and three coaches - " registered dietitian Rebecca Mohning, fitness trainer Josef Brandenburg, and clinical psychologist Ruth Wittersgreen.

"With PCOS affecting millions of lives and families, we feel the show will be an important vehicle to get more people involved," says William R. Patterson, CEO of The Baron Solution Group and Executive Producer of PCOS Challenge.

PCOS Challenge will air in various local cable markets across the United States as well as be available online in fall of 2010. Support for PCOS Challenge is provided in part by Chiral Balance, LLC; EA Sports Active division of Electronic Arts, Inc.; Diet-to-Go; US Foodservice; Pulling Down the Moon; Shady Grove Fertility Center; SUBWAY of Georgetown; Definitions Personal Training Plus; and Green Mountain at Fox Run.

For more information about PCOS Challenge, Inc., the PCOS Challenge television show, or how to become a sponsor, visit http://www.pcoschallenge.org.

PCOS Challenge, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides support for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome through the PCOS Challenge support website (PCOSChallenge.com); PCOS Challenge nonprofit website (PCOSChallenge.org); PCOS Challenge Expert Series workshops (PCOSChallenge.net); PCOS Challenge television show; PCOS Challenge radio show; and local offline support groups.

Contact:
N. Kali Mincy
Toll Free: (877) KICK-PCOS
Direct: (206) 984-8077
http://www.pcoschallenge.com

PCOS Challenge, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides support for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome through multimedia programming, online and offline support networks, and educational products. For more information about PCOS Challenge, Inc., the PCOS Challenge television show, or how to become a sponsor, visit http://www.pcoschallenge.org.