Endometriosis Awareness Deemed High Priority

NEW YORK, July 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Endometriosis, a disease that affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age globally, has prompted the collaboration between two leading non­profit organizations dedicated to the improvement of women's health? the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

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Tamer Seckin, MD, FACOG, and Founder of Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA) and Medical Director, Dr. Harry Reich, a pioneer in minimally invasive surgery for treating endometriosis, Dr. Ray Wertheim, endometriosis specialist, and Theresa Davidson, EFA Managing Director, met with ACOG's Vice President for Practice, Dr. Christopher Zahn, and Director of Federal Affairs, Rachel Gandell Tetlow to discuss:

• Collaborating for the full-scale expansion across all states of the EFA's adolescent education program, The ENdometriosis: Promoting Outreach and Wide Recognition (ENPOWR™) Project
• Implementing more robust efforts to improve the standards of diagnosis and care associated with endometriosis, particularly among young adults so as to reduce the current delay to diagnosis in the field of Adolescent Gynecology.
• Improving training standards for surgeons on the techniques specific to endometriosis, such as proper recognition and excisional removal of the lesions
• Producing updated practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis

"I am thrilled about collaborating with ACOG, as it is one of the most influential women's reproductive health organizations in the nation, with the ability to make a tremendous impact on practice as a whole," said Seckin. "Early diagnosis is crucial to detecting endometriosis and awareness is key to timely treatment. Working with ACOG, the EFA can expand its awareness campaign nationwide to reach so many more medical professionals and women."

According to the Journal of Human Reproduction, women who suffer from endometriosis have to wait an average of 12 years before getting a proper diagnosis. "This is unacceptable, and it has to change," said Seckin. He added, "Misdiagnosis, dump diagnosis and ignoring or dismissing the symptoms of endometriosis, and incomplete and improper surgeries are the main reasons for the long delay in diagnosing, and treating the disease."

In March, EFA co­founder Padma Lakshmi met with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill to initiate discussions about more collaborative efforts to facilitate endometriosis awareness. 

"The collaboration between the EFA and ACOG is the first of what I hope will be many partnerships with the EFA," said Seckin. "The EFA looks forward to creative partnerships both in the public and private sectors that will help spread the word out about this debilitating disease."

To learn more about endometriosis or to discuss partnership initiatives, visit the EFA website at endofound.org or call 646-854-3309.

Available for Interviews: 

Tamer Seckin, MD, FACOG, and Founder of Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA) and Medical Director

About the EFA

The Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA) strives to increase disease recognition, provide advocacy, facilitate expert surgical training, and fund landmark endometriosis research. Engaged in a robust campaign to inform both the medical community and the public, the EFA places particular emphasis on the critical importance of early diagnosis and effective intervention while simultaneously providing education to the next generation of medical professionals and their patients. For more information, visit www.endofound.org.

Media Contact: Jeanne Rebillard, Endometriosis Foundation of America, 845-518-4636, [email protected]

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SOURCE Endometriosis Foundation of America