At Endometriosis Australia, we are encouraged by the recent letter to the editor published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ANZJOG), which responds to the editorial titled “Worth Waiting For?”.
The letter, authored by a respected group of experts including our Medical Director Anusch Yazdani and former Chair Jason Abbott, offers an informed counterpoint to several oversimplified claims in the original article.
One key issue raised in the response is the tendency to treat endometriosis as a “one-size-fits-all” condition. Endometriosis is complex and manifests in varying ways, with different clinical outcomes. Oversimplifying the disease undermines the diversity of experiences and symptoms that people with endometriosis face.
The response also challenges the limited view of endometriosis as merely a chronic pain condition. While pain is common, endometriosis also affects fertility, quality of life, and can involve systemic symptoms. These factors must be included in research to fully understand the disease’s impact and to develop comprehensive treatment options.
The letter also addresses the serious biological risks associated with endometriosis, including an increased risk of ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancers. Ignoring these risks in patient management could result in delayed diagnoses and inadequate care.
The response further disputes the editorial’s claim that endometriosis lesions regress or remain stable regardless of disease subtype. Research shows that deep or severe endometriosis is less likely to regress, and surgical interventions can significantly improve symptoms and quality of life.
A critical point of the response is the inequity in treatment access for endometriosis versus Persistent Pelvic Pain (PPP). While some treatments for endometriosis are subsidised in Australia, many effective treatments for PPP are not, highlighting a need for more equitable healthcare solutions.
Perhaps most importantly, the response advocates for a collaborative, unified approach to managing endometriosis and PPP. We at Endometriosis Australia fully support this approach. We believe that medical professionals—both those treating endometriosis and those managing pelvic pain—must work together to ensure patients receive accurate diagnoses and effective care.
We are pleased to see this robust, evidence-based response and remain committed to our advocacy for better recognition, treatment, and research for endometriosis. The progress made in the last two decades is significant, but much work remains. A unified, informed healthcare community will be key to improving care for those with endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain.
Endometriosis Australia looks forward to continued collaboration and to a future where patients are no longer dismissed or misunderstood.
You can read the full response here.
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