What we’re doing about endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic menstrual health disorder that affects at least one in 9 girls and women in Australia. Symptoms include pain in the stomach, back and hip areas that can affect quality of life. Find out what we’re doing to help women living with endometriosis.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a painful chronic menstrual health disorder that can be hard to diagnose. Endometriosis occurs when some of the tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (womb), called the endometrium, grows outside of the uterus.
Endometriosis is a progressive, chronic condition. It is often painful but there are effective treatments that may relieve the symptoms of endometriosis. Endometriosis can affect women of all ages, including teenagers.
See healthdirect for more information about endometriosis.
What are we doing about endometriosis?
We are addressing endometriosis at a national level via our National Action Plan for Endometriosis.
Since the release of the National Action Plan for Endometriosis in July 2018 $22.50 million has been committed for:
- Awareness and education – $5.77 million
- Clinical management and care – $661,946
- Research – $16.07 million.
Further information on funded activities are provided for in the Endometriosis Progress Report 2021 update.
Other programs and initiatives that support endometriosis treatment include the:
- Medicare Benefits Schedule, which helps pay for patient care
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which helps pay for medicines
- National Health and Medical Research Council, which funds endometriosis research
See more chronic conditions resources.