III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 90 

Recognizing the significance of endometriosis as an unmet chronic disease 

for women and designating March 2023 as ‘‘Endometriosis Awareness 

Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 1, 2023 

Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself, Mrs. CAPITO, Ms. CANTWELL, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, and Ms. HIRONO) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the significance of endometriosis as an unmet 

chronic disease for women and designating March 2023 

as ‘‘Endometriosis Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas more than 6,500,000 women in the United States 

are living with endometriosis; 

Whereas endometriosis is a chronic disease that can be painful and debilitating and affects— 

(1) approximately 190,000,000 women throughout 

the world; 

(2) an estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age 

in the United States; and 

(3) primarily women in their 30s and 40s, but can 

affect any woman who menstruates; 


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•SRES 90 IS 

Whereas the cause of endometriosis is not known, but risk 

factors include— 

(1) having a mother, sister, or daughter with endometriosis; 

(2) menstrual cycles that started at an early age; 

(3) menstrual cycles that are short; and 

(4) periods that are heavy and last more than 7 

days; 

Whereas endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to that of 

the lining of the uterus begins to grow outside the uterus; 

Whereas, for many women, the only way currently available 

to be certain of an endometriosis diagnosis is to have a 

surgical procedure known as a laparoscopy; 

Whereas the primary symptoms of endometriosis include pain 

and infertility, and many women with endometriosis live 

with debilitating, chronic pain; 

Whereas symptoms of anxiety and depression are common 

among women with endometriosis, with reported rates as 

high as 75 to 90 percent; 

Whereas, although endometriosis is one of the most common 

gynecological disorders in the United States, there is a 

lack of awareness and prioritization of endometriosis as 

an important health issue for women; 

Whereas women can suffer from endometriosis for up to 10 

years before being properly diagnosed; 

Whereas approximately 75 percent of women with endometriosis experience a misdiagnosis; 

Whereas the management of symptoms of endometriosis may 

include low-dose oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices 

(IUDs), painkillers, including nonsteroidal anti-inflamVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:00 Mar 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR90.IS SR90

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•SRES 90 IS 

matory drugs (NSAIDs), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy; 

Whereas in vitro fertilization (IVF) is often recognized as the 

best option for patients experiencing endometriosis-associated infertility and for whom initial surgery was unsuccessful; 

Whereas endometriosis is associated with increased health 

care costs and poses a substantial burden to patients in 

the health care system; 

Whereas, in the United States, the estimated average direct 

health care cost associated with endometriosis per patient 

is more than $13,000 per year; 

Whereas 40 percent of women with endometriosis report impaired career growth due to endometriosis, and approximately 50 percent of women with endometriosis experience a decreased ability to work; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

found that the average number of ‘‘bed days’’ for patients with endometriosis was 18 days per year; 

Whereas women with endometriosis can lose 11 hours per 

workweek through lost productivity; 

Whereas the physical and psychological impact of endometriosis affects all domains of life, including social life, 

relationships, and work; 

Whereas medical societies and patient groups have expressed 

the need for greater public attention and updated resources targeted to public education about this unmet 

health need for women; 

Whereas there is a need for more research and updated 

guidelines to treat endometriosis; 


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•SRES 90 IS 

Whereas there is an ongoing need for additional clinical research and treatment options to manage this debilitating 

disease; and 

Whereas there is no known cure for endometriosis: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates March 2023 as ‘‘Endometriosis 

3 Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) recognizes the importance of endometriosis 

5 as a health issue for women that requires far greater 

6 attention, public awareness, and education about the 

7 disease; 

8 (3) encourages the Secretary of Health and 

9 Human Services, the Secretary of Defense, and the 

10 Secretary of Veterans Affairs— 

11 (A) to provide information to women, pa12 tients, and health care providers with respect to 

13 endometriosis, including available screening 

14 tools and treatment options, with a goal of im15 proving the quality of life and health outcomes 

16 of women affected by endometriosis; 

17 (B) to conduct additional research on 

18 endometriosis and possible clinical options; and 

19 (C) to update information, tools, and stud20 ies currently available with respect to helping 

21 women live with endometriosis; and 


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•SRES 90 IS 

1 (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

2 the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolu3 tion to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

Æ 


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