Thousands of women suffering from endometriosis, a painful and little-understood medical condition, will now have access to evidence-based resources to help them and doctors recognise, diagnose and treat it.
On Thursday the Victorian health minister, Jill Hennessy, launched Australia’s first set of evidence-based endometriosis resources, produced by the not-for-profit organisation Jean Hailes for Women’s Health through a $100,000 government grant.
An estimated 200,000 Victorian women are estimated to have endometriosis, and the disease affects about one in 10 women around the world. The chronic and often highly painful condition affects a woman’s reproductive organs and can result in heavy periods, pain and infertility.
A lack of awareness in the medical profession combined with the broad range of symptoms meansfor about a quarter of sufferers, diagnosis can take more than six years.
The Jean Hailes medical director and gynaecologist, Dr Elizabeth Farrell, said many women with painful periods did not realise they had endometriosis.
“Painful periods are not normal,” she said. “Yet teenagers and women might suffer in silence for years. This delay can mean their symptoms get worse over time, with major impacts on their quality of life.”
Early referral, diagnosis and treatment is critical to limit the impact of the disease on fertility, quality of life, mental health, relationships and career.
The resources launched by the government are based on the latest scientific evidence, and include a pre-diagnosis brochure, a post-diagnosis brochure and a tool for health practitioners to support the assessment, investigation and management of endometriosis.
Hennessy said she hope the resources would help women in physical pain and emotional distress who felt unable to receive the medical and social support they needed.
“By investing in these Victorian first resources we’re putting the health, fertility and wellbeing of Victorian women first so they can get on with spending time with their family, friends and work colleagues,” she said.
The endometriosis resources can be accessed online at jeanhailes.org.au
