New endometriosis guidelines welcome – but funding must follow

On 18 August, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Minister for Women Nicola Grigg announced new clinical guidelines for endometriosis. The guidelines will mean primary care can make a clinical diagnosis based on a patient's symptoms, family history, and examination, rather than having to wait for a laparoscopy.

Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa welcomes new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis but says unless funding follows for the treatment, training and testing, the benefits of the guidelines will be limited to those who can afford to pay.

Medical Director Dr Beth Messenger says endometriosis causes pain and distress, which is hugely impactful on people’s lives, compounded by an often years-long wait time for a diagnosis by laparoscopic examination.

“The guidelines have the potential to make both diagnosis and treatment available more readily in primary care – speeding a resolution for many clients and reducing the need for hospital level interventions such as laparoscopy,” Dr Messenger says.

“But, funding must follow the guidelines. Unless there is funding for treatments, funding for additional training for primary care to implement the guidelines and for sonographers to use the latest technology, as well as funding for laparoscopy for those who require it, then treatment will only be available to the few who can afford to pay. Rapidly, this becomes an equity issue,” Dr Messenger says.