A trial of a new management plan to potentially assist thousands of Australian women who suffer from endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain is underway this month.
Eight medical clinics located in various parts of Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and West Australia will be involved in trials of the new Endometriosis Management Plan (EMP).
The EMP has been developed by Monash University's SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence, in partnership with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). The development, piloting and national release of the plan was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care as part of the National Endometriosis Action Plan.
In Australia, one in seven women (14 per cent) has clinically confirmed or suspected endometriosis by age 44.
The total economic burden of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain per year in Australia is estimated at between $7.4 billion and $9.7 billion.
SPHERE Director and Head of the Monash University Department of General Practice, Professor Danielle Mazza AM, said endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain have critical implications for some women's quality of life and the cause of the conditions remains uncertain.
"General practitioners and other clinicians can do a great deal more to support the management of endometriosis and pelvic pain within primary care settings, and to assist women to better understand and manage the condition," Professor Mazza said.
"SPHERE has worked with expert clinicians, stakeholder organisations, and people with lived experience, to prepare a detailed management plan to address these sometimes debilitating and intractable medical conditions. The plan also incorporates the recommendations of the newly released National Endometriosis Guidelines."
The online Endometriosis Management Plan is used to develop a tailored chronic disease management plan with patients. This involves identifying symptoms, mapping patient goals, and providing clinicians and patients with evidence-based recommendations and resources to better manage the condition.
A 'How to utilise the plan' toolkit, with a video to assist clinicians in their practice and a resource for patients about the plan have also been developed.
The Endometriosis Management Plan is focussed on supporting all general practices, and people with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain in Australia. The EMP will be rolled out to all primary care settings in Australia in mid 2026, once the pilot and evaluation are completed.
Background
Australia was the first country to develop a roadmap and blueprint to tackle endometriosis in a nationwide coordinated manner with the National Action Plan for Endometriosis in 2018.
The plan was created in partnership between the Federal Government, endometriosis experts and advocacy groups. As part of the package, the Australian Government funded the development of an Endometriosis Management Plan (EMP) in primary care settings – often the first point of contact in the healthcare system for those experiencing symptoms associated with endometriosis.
Through SPHERE's investigator team, the project has links to key stakeholders and partner organisations including the Commonwealth Department of Health Endometriosis Expert Advisory Group, Primary Health Networks (PHNs), RACGP, RANZCOG, tertiary care services, and consumer groups including the Australian Coalition for Endometriosis (ACE).
