Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects more than one million Australians.
Researchers from Monash and Flinders Universities analysed medical data from almost 20,000 women, finding prevalence of the disease increased by more than 60% from 2011 to 2021.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body.
It can cause debilitating pain in the pelvic region, and can be associated with infertility.
The condition is primarily diagnosed through surgical intervention.
Study
Researchers analysed medical data from 1.7 million women aged 14 to 49 who visited their regular GP between 2011 and 2021.
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Almost 3% of those women went on to be diagnosed with endometriosis.
Two-thirds of these women had documented symptoms before receiving a diagnosis. The most common were pelvic pain (40.8%), painful period cramps (22.1%), fatigue (19.3%), and heavy menstrual bleeding (15%).
Researchers found the prevalence of diagnoses rose from 1.78 per 100 women in 2011 to 2.86 per 100 women in 2021 — an increase of more than 60%.
Women aged 20–24 saw the largest increase, from 0.81 per 100 in 2011 to 1.87 per 100 in 2021.
Researchers also noted a surge in GPs requesting pelvic ultrasounds, with almost half of patients receiving one in 2021, compared to fewer than one in five in 2011.
Results
The study’s authors said the increase in diagnoses could be attributed to greater public awareness of the disease, driven by advocacy campaigns and updated medical guidelines.
On pelvic ultrasounds, lead author Professor Danielle Mazza said: “The increase in numbers... is also welcome given recent guideline recommendations to utilise this investigation to assist in diagnosis.”
