Title: Supporting the designation of March 2019 as Endometriosis Awareness Month.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideas of Endometriosis Awareness Month. (Endometriosis is a painful condition in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside the uterus.)
It also recognizes the need for early detection and treatment of endometriosis, increased education for health care providers, and more culturally competent care.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 118 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 118

  Supporting the designation of March 2019 as Endometriosis Awareness 
                                 Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 8, 2019

 Mr. David Scott of Georgia (for himself, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Wasserman 
  Schultz, Mr. Cisneros, Mr. Hagedorn, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Marshall, Ms. 
 Norton, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Watkins, 
  Mr. Cohen, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Meng, and Mr. Hastings) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the designation of March 2019 as Endometriosis Awareness 
                                 Month.

Whereas endometriosis is a disease in which the type of tissue that normally 
        grows in the uterus (the endometrium) also grows outside of the uterus;
Whereas endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases in women, 
        and occurs in 1 in 10 women of reproductive age;
Whereas endometriosis has no known cure;
Whereas the cause of endometriosis is not known, but risk factors include having 
        a mother, sister, or daughter with endometriosis, periods that started 
        at an early age, monthly cycles that are short, and menstrual cycles 
        that are heavy and last more than seven days;
Whereas the only way currently available to be certain of an endometriosis 
        diagnosis is to have a surgical procedure known as a laparoscopy;
Whereas endometriosis primarily affects women in their 30s and 40s, but can 
        affect any woman who menstruates;
Whereas women experience a delay from three to eleven years between the first 
        symptoms of pain and the final endometriosis diagnosis, which can lead 
        to lower quality of life and high medical costs;
Whereas for many girls and women, endometriosis is a lifelong chronic disease 
        that can affect relationships, school and work, fertility, and daily 
        life;
Whereas the primary symptoms of endometriosis include pain and infertility, and 
        many with endometriosis live with debilitating, chronic pain;
Whereas endometriosis is one of the three 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 IVF, low-dose oral contraceptives, 
        IUDs, pain killers (NSAIDs), and GnRH therapy; and
Whereas there is a need for further research and increased research funding for 
        endometriosis, which could lead to earlier detection and the discovery 
        of the cause of the disease, a reliable, less invasive way to diagnose 
        the disease, more effective ways to manage symptoms, and a cure: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) strongly supports the goals and ideas of Endometriosis 
        Awareness Month;
            (2) recognizes the need for early detection and treatment 
        of endometriosis, increased education for health care 
        providers, and more culturally competent care;
            (3) remains committed to supporting and funding 
        endometriosis research for more effective treatments, 
        increasing fertility, and, ultimately, a cure; and
            (4) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        the month with appropriate awareness and educational 
        activities.
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