Representatives David Scott (D-GA-13) and Dr. Roger Marshall (R-KS-01) recently led a bipartisan group of 14 House Members to introduce H. Res. 118. This resolution expresses support for the designation of March 2019 as Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis impacts 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the United States and an estimated 200 million women worldwide.
“It is an honor to work with my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Endocrine Society to establish Endometriosis Awareness Month, bring attention to this important women’s health issue, and shed light on this debilitating disease,” Rep. Scott said. “We must continue our efforts to ensure women receive quality treatment and eliminate the burden of this disease on women’s lives.”
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that up to 50 percent of women with endometriosis are infertile. Despite its prevalence, endometriosis has not received the federal attention or funding that a disease of this severity deserves. H. Res. 118. acknowledges both the risks of endometriosis and the shortcomings of current awareness, funding, research, and treatment.
“Throughout my career as an OB-GYN physician for 25 years, I treated hundreds of patients with endometriosis,” Rep. Marshall said. “Women with this disease experience chronic pain, fertility issues, colorectal health issues, fatigue and much more. While we have advanced our treatment procedures, through surgery, medication, and nutrition, we are still working hard to fully understand this disease.”
Establishing Endometriosis Awareness Month is an important step towards highlighting the experiences of women fighting this chronic disorder every day and finding a cure. Given the wide variety of symptoms and its impact on women of all ages, endometriosis can go undiagnosed for years and only present itself once the symptoms are severe.
Other original cosponsors of H. Res. 118 include Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-23), Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA-39), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN-1), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-9), Hank Johnson (D-GA-4), Steven Watkins (R-KS-2), Steve Cohen (D-TN-9), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-7), Grace Meng (D-NY-6) and Alcee Hastings (D-FL-20).
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