[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 90 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 90

   Recognizing the significance of endometriosis as an unmet chronic 
    disease for women and designating March 2023 as ``Endometriosis 
                           Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 1, 2023

 Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Klobuchar, 
  Mr. Booker, Mr. Blumenthal, and Ms. Hirono) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing the significance of endometriosis as an unmet chronic 
    disease for women and designating March 2023 as ``Endometriosis 
                           Awareness Month''.

Whereas more than 6,500,000 women in the United States are living with 
        endometriosis;
Whereas endometriosis is a chronic disease that can be painful and debilitating 
        and affects--

    (1) approximately 190,000,000 women throughout the world;

    (2) an estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the United 
States; and

    (3) primarily women in their 30s and 40s, but can affect any woman who 
menstruates;

Whereas the cause of endometriosis is not known, but risk factors include--

    (1) having a mother, sister, or daughter with endometriosis;

    (2) menstrual cycles that started at an early age;

    (3) menstrual cycles that are short; and

    (4) periods that are heavy and last more than 7 days;

Whereas endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to that of the lining of the 
        uterus begins to grow outside the uterus;
Whereas, for many women, the only way currently available to be certain of an 
        endometriosis diagnosis is to have a surgical procedure known as a 
        laparoscopy;
Whereas the primary symptoms of endometriosis include pain and infertility, and 
        many women with endometriosis live with debilitating, chronic pain;
Whereas symptoms of anxiety and depression are common among women with 
        endometriosis, with reported rates as high as 75 to 90 percent;
Whereas, although endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological 
        disorders in the United States, there is a lack of awareness and 
        prioritization of endometriosis as an important health issue for women;
Whereas women can suffer from endometriosis for up to 10 years before being 
        properly diagnosed;
Whereas approximately 75 percent of women with endometriosis experience a 
        misdiagnosis;
Whereas the management of symptoms of endometriosis may include low-dose oral 
        contraceptives, intrauterine devices (IUDs), painkillers, including 
        nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and gonadotropin-
        releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy;
Whereas in vitro fertilization (IVF) is often recognized as the best option for 
        patients experiencing endometriosis-associated infertility and for whom 
        initial surgery was unsuccessful;
Whereas endometriosis is associated with increased health care costs and poses a 
        substantial burden to patients in the health care system;
Whereas, in the United States, the estimated average direct health care cost 
        associated with endometriosis per patient is more than $13,000 per year;
Whereas 40 percent of women with endometriosis report impaired career growth due 
        to endometriosis, and approximately 50 percent of women with 
        endometriosis experience a decreased ability to work;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the average 
        number of ``bed days'' for patients with endometriosis was 18 days per 
        year;
Whereas women with endometriosis can lose 11 hours per workweek through lost 
        productivity;
Whereas the physical and psychological impact of endometriosis affects all 
        domains of life, including social life, relationships, and work;
Whereas medical societies and patient groups have expressed the need for greater 
        public attention and updated resources targeted to public education 
        about this unmet health need for women;
Whereas there is a need for more research and updated guidelines to treat 
        endometriosis;
Whereas there is an ongoing need for additional clinical research and treatment 
        options to manage this debilitating disease; and
Whereas there is no known cure for endometriosis: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates March 2023 as ``Endometriosis Awareness 
        Month'';
            (2) recognizes the importance of endometriosis as a health 
        issue for women that requires far greater attention, public 
        awareness, and education about the disease;
            (3) encourages the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
        the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs--
                    (A) to provide information to women, patients, and 
                health care providers with respect to endometriosis, 
                including available screening tools and treatment 
                options, with a goal of improving the quality of life 
                and health outcomes of women affected by endometriosis;
                    (B) to conduct additional research on endometriosis 
                and possible clinical options; and
                    (C) to update information, tools, and studies 
                currently available with respect to helping women live 
                with endometriosis; and
            (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
        transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
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