The number of women being diagnosed with endometriosis in Australia is rising, new data shows.
Endometriosis is a painful disease that occurs when tissue similar to that which lines the uterus grows outside the uterus – usually in areas like the ovaries and fallopian tubes as well as on organs such as the bladder, bowel, vagina, and cervix.
Symptoms and severity varies from person to person, but for many it can be crippling – and can also cause infertility.
New research by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows about 1 in 7 women are diagnosed with the “historically under-recognised” condition by age 40 to 44.
This is a dramatic jump from the AIHW’s 2019 report which showed endometriosis affected 1 in 9 women.
“This increase may reflect increased awareness of endometriosis among the general public and health professionals, leading to increased diagnosis and/or reporting of diagnosis among women born more recently,” AIHW spokeswoman Katherine Faulks said.
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