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PROJECT HEART!
Helping Educate And Reach Teens

Project HEART is a program to educate and provide support for teens with PCOS. This program has several goals:

• Big Cyster List
• Teen Magazines
• University, College, and High School Outreach
• Newsletter

The Big Cyster List

The Big Cyster List is an e-mail list where you can chat with "Big Cysters" — older women who have PCOS, as well as other teens. Many woman with PCOS started having symptoms as teens, and these women are willing to share their experiences with you.

Talk a little bit about yourself — when you were diagnosed, your age, and what kind of support or information you need. The list is great on-line support, where teens and "Big Cysters" can share their feelings and experiences. Remember, a Big Cyster is not a doctor but can help guide you in your journey of taking charge of your PCOS treatment.

Teen Magazines

You've seen articles about PCOS in your mom's magazines. Wouldn't it be great to see an article in a magazine for Teens and make others aware of how PCOS can impact your life?

Tell PCOSupport™ what magazines you read by sending an e-mail to pr@pcosupport.org. Write the title of the magazine and any information you can find about the publisher (their address, an editor's name, a phone number). Our goal is to have one teen magazine publish an article about PCOS and PCOTeen™ and help sponsor our group.

Universities, Colleges, and High School Outreach

Remember what it was like when you didn't know what was wrong, and what a relief it was to finally find out it had a name — PCOS? You can help educate other teens and young women, as well as your school nurses and student health center professionals by spreading the word about PCOS. PCOSupport™ is creating materials and brochures that you can give to your school nurse or student health center professionals.

Another place to take these brochures is to your local Planned Parenthood or Pregnancy Crisis Center and giving them information about PCOS. Since the first obvious sign of PCOS in many young women is missed periods, a girl may think she is pregnant but find out instead that her irregular periods are due to PCOS.

You can also tell people about the PCOSupport™ and PCOTeen™ web sites! There is a ton of information contained in both of them, as well as PDF files you can download!