Recognizing the significance of endometriosis as an unmet chronic disease for women and designating March 2022 as Endometriosis Awareness Month.

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; 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; 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; 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 That the Senate (1) designates March 2022 as Endometriosis Awareness Month (2) recognizes the importance of endometriosis as a health issue for women that requires far greater attention, public awareness, and education about the disease; (3) encourages the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (A) to provide information to women, patients, and health care providers with respect to endometriosis, including available screening tools and treatment options, with a goal of improving the quality of life and health outcomes of women affected by endometriosis; (B) to conduct additional research on endometriosis and possible clinical options; and (C) to update information, tools, and studies currently available with respect to helping women live with endometriosis; and (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Summary: This resolution designates March 2022 as Endometriosis Awareness Month.