Women living with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain will be able to begin managing their symptoms with their GP earlier, following the launch of Australia’s first national Endometriosis Management Plan (EMP).
The EMP brings the latest endometriosis guidelines into an online personalised care plan, helping patients and GPs make evidence-based decisions about treatment, symptom management, referrals and ongoing care in a bid to achieve better health outcomes.
Endometriosis affects up to one in seven Australian women by age 50. It has no known cure, making effective long-term management of symptoms and their impact on everyday life critical.
While it takes an average of eight years from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis, eligible patients with suspected endometriosis or chronic pelvic pain can now use this EMP to begin managing their symptoms with their GP in the meantime.
The web-based EMP covers issues such as pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, fertility and mental health, and provides guidance on treatment options, referrals, self-management and multidisciplinary care.
At the end of the consultation, patients receive a personalised digital or printed plan, that can be reviewed and updated with their GP. The EMP also provides access to relevant information and support, and helps clinicians consider multidisciplinary care, including allied health services such as physiotherapy for chronic pelvic pain.
Project lead Professor Danielle Mazza AM, Head of Monash University’s Department of General Practice, said the EMP was designed to ensure patients with persistent symptoms were not left waiting for the next step in their care.
“Someone may have suspected endometriosis and be referred for further investigation or specialist care, but that doesn’t mean nothing can happen in the meantime,” Professor Mazza said.
“Symptoms can be complex, non-specific and vary from person to person.
“We want patients to understand their condition, know what their options are and have a clear management plan they can return to and review with their GP, rather than feeling there is nowhere to turn.
The EMP was co-designed with people living with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, GPs, other clinicians and key stakeholders to ensure it reflected both patients’ needs and the realities of delivering care in general practice.
Previous Monash-led research found the proportion of women attending Australian general practices with a documented endometriosis diagnosis almost doubled between 2011 and 2021, highlighting the growing role of GPs in endometriosis care.
The EMP is available online for clinicians and patients.
