Endometriosis Awareness in Schools is Coming!

Australia has implemented its first endometriosis awareness program in school settings. The Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia is running a pilot program, with the hope of extending it upon successful completion of the trial. The trial program will start in South Australia and will be then included into other schools across the entire country. The Periods, Pain and Endometriosis Program (PPEP) has been developed in conjunction with a gynecologist that specializes in pain and endometriosis, Dr Susan Evans. Dr Evans is a co-founder of The Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia and part of the Australian Coalition for Endometriosis. She is a well known researcher and advocate for endometriosis awareness. She works tirelessly on highlighting of the depth and breadth of the individual, family, financial and societal burden that is associated with endometriosis.¹

Could the program help girls and young women get earlier diagnosis?

The program involves a 1 hour talk, with a medically trained professional. There is also ample opportunity provided for the girls to come and speak privately about individual concerns that they might have. The school is then given and book about the program that covers the plethora of associated problems and sufferings that women with endometriosis go through. The book also touches on topics associated with endometriosis that young girls might be too embarrassed to talk about with their family, mothers or friends. By introducing this information at an earlier age, out of a clinical setting, perhaps they might reach those girls that are left behind in the shadows, suffering in silence. Young girls might get an earlier diagnosis, and begin the path to reduce their sufferer earlier. Countless visits to doctors, specialists, and other health professionals might be avoided by empowering these girls with the information that might help them direct their care, as well as legitimize their experiences.

Is endometriosis finally coming to the forefront?

In Australia, a recent push has brought endometriosis out of the shadows and into the forefront, with an allocation of $10,0000,0000 dollars by The Department of Health  specifically for endometriosis research. This is to be used to develop non-invasive procedures for diagnosis, as well as further investigations into defining the causes of endometriosis. In fact, last year the Australia government established a National Action Plan for Endometriosis, to concrete their ongoing commitment.

What does this means for women with endometriosis worldwide?

If where you live has not developed programs such as this, perhaps it might be something that you could look into. Get in contact with your local advocacy group and your local council, and begin starting your own version of the PPEP in local schools. Think of all the time it took for your diagnosis and how you could help other women or young girls reduce the pain, money, frustration that you went through.

Let us know how you go!