The proportion of women presenting to Australian general practice with endometriosis almost doubled between 2011-2021, according to a new study.
From Monash University’s SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence, the research analysed deidentified electronic medical data from almost 20,000 women with endometriosis, aged 14 to 49 years, who sought care from 660 general practitioners across 2,700 clinics.
The comprehensive cohort study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), offers insights to help improve GP diagnosis and management of endometriosis into the future.
“We saw a significant increase in women attending general practice with endometriosis. They present to the GP with a broad range of symptoms, which can make it difficult for a GP to recognise the presence of endometriosis,” said the lead author of the new study was SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence Director, Professor Danielle Mazza.
Researchers say the increase in endometriosis prevalence may reflect the contributions of endometriosis advocacy groups at raising awareness of this condition amongst consumers and health professionals, as well as improved use and quality of clinical investigations, such as pelvic ultrasound.
“Endometriosis can be difficult to diagnose, as symptoms are often complex and can be present in a range of conditions other than endometriosis. We need to provide support to GPs so they are better able to identify and manage endometriosis,” said Professor Mazza. “There is more to be done”.
The study also reveals that the median time taken to diagnose endometriosis in women attending general practice is 2.5 years. And there’s been a significant increase in the use of pelvic ultrasounds requested by medical practitioners for diagnosis from 2011 to 2021.
Professor Mazza said the study provides important new insights into the presentation and management of endometriosis in Australian general practices, including important background information for the implementation of an endometriosis management plan, scheduled for mid-2026.
Eight general practice clinics across Australia, including in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and West Australia, have begun piloting a new Endometriosis Management Plan (EMP), developed by SPHERE, 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, Disability and Ageing as part of the National Endometriosis Action Plan.