On the occasion of World Day to combat endometriosis this Friday, March 28, the Ministry of Health announces several measures to improve support for this chronic disease that affects almost one in ten women, according to the World Health Organization.
Women who suffer from this inflammatory disease are often found in medical errors, due to lack of diagnosis. As health insurance points out on site, women “face an almost systematic diagnostic delay, which is on average seven years.”
However, endometriosis symptoms can strongly affect the quality of life: acute pain in the pelvis, especially during periods, pain during sexual intercourse, low back pain, toilet, fatigue, fertility problem …
To improve the diagnosis, the Minister of Health, Catherine Vautrin, hopes that every young woman has been aware of at least once in her education about this disease.
This Friday, he will attend the signing of a letter between the Regional Health Agency of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the Rectorate and the AFENA (Association for the Fight Against Endometriosis in New Aquitaine). Ultimately, Catherine Vautrin and Yannick Neuder, Minister Responsible for Health and Access to Attention, wish associations between AR and rectors on endometriosis to be generalized, depending on the ministry, without anyone knowing that he will be responsible for his application.
Improve diagnosis
In New Aquitaine yet, Catherine Vautrin will attend the signing of a letter between the ARs and the members of the Territorial Professional Health (CPTs) communities, groups of players in the health sector in a territory since they wish to coordinate in a project. The objective is to better train liberal health professionals, including general doctors and midwives, also to improve diagnosis times.
Endotest, a salivary test used for the diagnosis of endometriosis offered in 80 centers to certain patients, will be from early April in 100 structures, according to the Ministry of Health. The fact that it has given green light in October to the management of these tests, through a derogatory device. According to the Ministry of Health and Ziwig, about 25,000 patients over 18 could benefit from care in the coming months.
The first 2,500 will be included in a clinical study, whose results (decrease in the number of diagnostic surgeries, impact on general management) will condition a possible reimbursement generalization. Endotest can be proposed in the third intention, women patients with a suspicion of endometriosis but whose images are not clear. Endometriosis is generally diagnosed by an ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance.
No treatment for endometriosis
There is no treatment for endometriosis, only symptoms can be attenuated, adapting their lifestyle (sport, diet, physiotherapy …) and/or medications, anti -inflammatory medications, for example. Hormonal contraception (pill, IUD …) can limit the growth of endometriosis lesions, which can also be eliminated by surgery.
In addition, the government wants to label specialized surgical centers in complex endometriosis. The new Aquitaine has started a working group to define the criteria for this label and the Ministry of Health wants to support the authorities in this work, with the hope of the first labeling in 2026.
Source: BFM TV
