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 the cause of endometriosis is not known, but risk factors include—

(1)

having a mother, sister, or daughter with endometriosis;

(2)

menstrual cycles that started at an early age;

(3)

menstrual cycles that are short; and

(4)

periods that are heavy and last more than 7 days;

Whereas, for many women, the only way currently available to be certain of an endometriosis diagnosis is to have a surgical procedure known as a laparoscopy;

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, 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 approximately 75 percent of women with endometriosis experience a misdiagnosis;

Whereas the management of symptoms of endometriosis may include surgery, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists, and many other medical treatments;

Whereas endometriosis is associated with increased health care costs and poses a substantial burden to patients in the health care system;

Whereas, in the United States, the estimated average direct health care cost associated with endometriosis per patient is more than $13,000 per year;

Whereas 40 percent of women with endometriosis report impaired career growth due to endometriosis, and approximately 50 percent of women with endometriosis experience a decreased ability to work;

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the average number of bed days for patients with endometriosis was 18 days per year;

Whereas women with endometriosis can lose 11 hours per workweek through lost productivity;

Whereas the physical and psychological impact of endometriosis affects all domains of life, including social life, relationships, and work;

Whereas medical societies and patient groups have expressed the need for greater public attention and updated resources targeted to public education about this unmet health need for women;

Whereas there is a need for more research and updated guidelines to treat endometriosis;

Whereas there is an ongoing need for additional clinical research and treatment options to manage this debilitating disease; and

Whereas there is no known cure for endometriosis: Now, therefore, be it