III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 560 

Recognizing the significance of endometriosis as an unmet chronic disease 

for women and designating March 2022 as ‘‘Endometriosis Awareness 

Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 29, 2022 

Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself, Mrs. CAPITO, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, and Mr. BOOKER) 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 2022 

as ‘‘Endometriosis Awareness Month’’. 

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

are living with endometriosis; 

Whereas endometriosis is a painful and debilitating chronic 

disease affecting— 

(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 560 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 

normally found in the uterus begins to grow outside the 

uterus; 

Whereas 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 the 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 for up to 10 years before being 

properly diagnosed; 

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

Whereas endometriosis is 1 of the 3 main causes of female 

infertility, and between 30 and 50 percent of women with 

endometriosis experience infertility; 


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•SRES 560 IS 

Whereas health care providers must focus on managing the 

symptoms of endometriosis, which may include in vitro 

fertilization (IVF), low-dose oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices (IUDs), painkillers, including nonsteriodal 

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

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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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 2022 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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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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