About endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic condition that can be hard to diagnose and painful. Endometriosis occurs when some of the tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (womb), called the endometrium, grows outside of the uterus.
Some symptoms of endometriosis can include:
- abdominal pain
- heavy periods
- bleeding from the bladder or bowel
- feeling bloated
- tiredness
- anxiety or depression related to the pain
- infertility
Endometriosis is a chronic condition that can start at puberty and continue through to old age. It can be painful and debilitating but there are effective treatments that may relieve the symptoms of endometriosis.
For more information on tips to self-manage the symptoms of endometriosis and other chronic pelvic pain conditions, visit the following organisations that are receiving funding contributions from the government:
For more information about endometriosis see healthdirect.
What we are 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, around $127 million has been committed for a range of initiatives in:
- research
- awareness and education
- clinical management and care
From 2022-23 to 2027-28, the Government has invested a total of $37 million for 33 Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics (clinics). This includes initial funding of $17.4 million in 2022-23 for 22 clinics, as well as $19.6 million in 2025-26 for an additional 11 clinics, expanding the program to 33 clinics nation-wide.
The expansion will support more clinics to:
- provide multidisciplinary care
- enhance support for endometriosis and pelvic pain across Australia
- improve pathways to and the timeliness of diagnosis of endometriosis and other chronic pelvic pain related conditions
- promote early access to intervention, care and treatment options for endometriosis, pelvic pain, perimenopause and menopause.
- provide care and support for patients with symptoms associated with menopause, including throughout the menopause transition (perimenopause) and post-menopause.
More information on the expansion of the clinics can be found in the media release from Minister Butler. Learn more about these clinics.
More support for women with endometriosis
More measures to help women to find appropriate care and better manage the impact of endometriosis and pelvic pain are listed below.
Endometriosis guideline, management plan and support for priority populations
- $0.8 million to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) to develop the Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis. This Guideline is a clinical resource that provides the latest scientific evidence to assist the diagnosis and management of endometriosis
- $5.1 million for the development and implementation of an Endometriosis Management Plan to support the navigation and management of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain for providers and their patients in primary care
- $2.0 million investment to increasing awareness of endometriosis in priority populations. This includes:
- a Mentor Program to support those newly diagnosed with endometriosis
- a Workplace Assistance Program to facilitate discussions in the workplace
- $1.9 million for continued support for the EndoZone digital platform to provide consumer access to evidence-based information
Research
- $21.33 million for additional research on endometriosis from the Medical Research Future Fund and National Health and Medical Research Council,
- $5.1 million to support the National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific Trials (NECST) Network to continue growing research capacity and address research gaps
MBS
- access to four MBS items to support extended consultations of 45 minutes or more with gynaecologists for patients with complex needs such as endometriosis. More information on these items can be found on the MBS website
- access to a Medicare-funded magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to assist in the investigation of infertility for those with severe endometriosis and other conditions
- access to a new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item for pelvic ultrasound, to support diagnosis of complex gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis and pelvic floor dysfunction
- expansion of MBS bulk billing incentives for all Medicare-eligible patients.
PBS
- addition of two new medicines for the treatment of endometriosis to the PBS, Dienogest, and Relugolix with estradiol and with norethisterone. More information on the new medications can be found on the Medicines Status Website.
Learn more about these measures in our progress report. See more chronic conditions resources.