Article: Endometriosis: Hidden suffering and disease burden

Published in pharmaphorum Deep Dive

Women’s health has been under the spotlight in recent years, as a much under-resourced area of investment. In this article, we share key insights from the 2022 Living with Endometriosis report carried out in the US with over 100 patients, which highlights the pain and suffering experienced by over 10% of American females and explores what the pharmaceutical industry can do to support them.

Women living with endometriosis
For most girls, starting their period is a significant event; a milestone which marks the transition between childhood and womanhood. Calendars are marked, protection is stored in purses and spontaneous trips, sleepovers and pool parties require more logistical planning than was considered before.

For women starting their period, it can be an empowering new chapter, and after becoming used to the process, is relatively manageable. However, for around 1 in 10 US women, their periods are going to mark the start of something worse; not only will they need to manage their calendars around certain times of the month, but pain medication may also be required. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue, similar to the lining of the womb, starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes...