Endometriosis finally recognized as a long-term condition

” It was time ! “: Tuesday’s announcement of a national strategy to combat endometriosis by Emmanuel Macron raises the hope of better knowledge and management of this disease, from which one in ten women in France suffers, still too often in silence. ” It’s not a women’s problem. It’s a social problem “, estimated the president about endometriosis, which affects more than two million French women and is the first cause ofinfertility.

To move forward on this subject which close to heart “, he announced the launch of the” first national strategy for the fight against endometriosis “, largely inspired by the report submitted by the gynecologist and MEP LREM, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou. This plan will be articulated around three main axes. First, it will be ” better understand this disease and its causes, and find therapeutic treatments “, which will involve deploying resources for research ” up to the challenge “. Then, each region will have to precisely identify territorial care channels with at least one referral and expertise center “.

Recognition from society

Finally, ” it is necessary to develop what could be called a “endometriosis reflex” with all audiences: at school, at university, at home, in the office, and even, and especially I would say, in medical circles “, believes Mr. Macron. Ms. Zacharopoulou greeted AFP ” recognition of the whole of society vis-à-vis millions of women who suffer“.

” France will be a model in Europe “, she rejoices. ” It’s good to hear that in the mouth of the Head of State “, also reacts Tiphaine, 31, suffering from endometriosis, after 10 years of suffering and wandering. At home, the pains appeared at the age of 20 years. So strong that she had to stop studying law.

” I saw about twenty doctors: general practitioners, gynecologists, gastroenterologists, she says. I remember hearing “Are you again? We’re going to give you a package!”. But never the word “endometriosis” “. Until she came across, at 28, a surgeon who believed her, listened to her and finally put a diagnostic, opening the gate to support.

Hope for better management of endometriosis

She is now waiting for “concrete actions”: “ In a class, at least three girls have endometriosis. If we did an automatic diagnosis, it would save a lot of time. “, she believes. Endometriosis, on which knowledge remains incomplete, is linked to the presence of cells of uterine origin outside theuterus who react to hormone during the menstrual cycles. Sometimes asymptomatic, it can also manifest itself in heavy periods and severe pain. Lack of knowledge leads to a diagnostic delay of seven years on average.

” We’ve been warning about endometriosis for 20 years, it’s about time the problem was taken seriously, emphasizes Yasmine Candau, President of the EndoFrance association. A research program, a care sector in all regions, better continuing education for doctors, all of this is going in the right direction. “.

” It’s the first time we’ve had a national strategy and that’s a very good thing. “, also greets Nathalie Clary, president of the Endomind association, after a first plan drafted in 2019 but delayed by the health crisis of the Covid-19. ” We now need to have a budget envelope on the table, she asks.

LFI MP Clementine Autain presented this Thursday to the National Assembly a resolution aimed at recognizing endometriosis as a long-lasting condition duration which was adopted unanimously. Endometriosis is recognized among the thirty diseases classified as long-term conditions (ALD). The disease no longer falls under the so-called ALD 31, “off the list”, which means that only the most severely affected women, with treatment for more than six months, benefit from complete care.

The Minister of Health Olivier Véran, for his part, specified on Wednesday that he would meet on February 14 a first interministerial steering committee which will in particular rely on the associations.