The push is on to recognize endometriosis in adolescents

ACOG under fire

Dr. Sinervo and Dr. Orbuch are among the gynecologic surgeons, other providers, and patients who have signed a petition to ACOG urging it to involve both educated patients and expert, multidisciplinary endometriosis providers in improving their guidance and policies on endometriosis to facilitate earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment.

The petition was organized by advocate Casey Berna in July and supported by more than a half-dozen endometriosis advocacy groups; in early May, it had almost 8,700 signatures. Ms. Berna also co-organized a demonstration outside ACOG headquarters on April 5-6 as leaders were reviewing practice bulletins and deciding which need revision – and a virtual protest (#WeMatterACOG) – to push for better guidelines.

Courtesy of Wendy Bingham, DPT

Among the concerns voiced by patient advocates: that neither excision surgery nor dedicated expert treatment of endometriosis are recognized by ACOG in its Practice Bulletin or adequately addressed in other guidance/education, and that diagnostic delays and ineffective management are still too often guided by myths – for instance, that hormonal treatment or hysterectomy can cure endometriosis, and that preteens and teenagers are too young to have the disease.