New national plan aims to strengthen endometriosis care with your GP
Monash University
Australians living with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain will have a new way to plan and manage their care with their GP, with the launch of Australia’s first national Endometriosis Management Plan (EMP).
Launching today, 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 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.
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.
“Ultimately, we hope the EMP will help raise the standard of care for endometriosis and pelvic pain in general practice.”
The web-based EMP guides the consultation around the symptoms that matter most to each patient and their individual goals. It 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.
The EMP was developed by Monash University’s SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence in partnership with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
It 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.
Twenty five-year-old Florrie, who has lived with endometriosis pain for nearly ten years, said finding a GP who listens can make all the difference.
“I think if just one medical professional had said, ‘Look, I hear you, I understand this is really hard for you and I want to help you,’ that would have made such a difference,” Florrie said.
“I think it would be amazing if you could go into the doctor and come out with an answer.
“It would have stopped a lot of visits and a lot of time going back and forth. It would have also stopped a lot of pain and a lot of feeling misunderstood. Just being believed and feeling heard would have changed so much.”
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.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) President Dr Michael Wright said the EMP had the potential to change people's lives.
"Too many Australians living with endometriosis spend years seeking answers, often while managing significant pain and disruption to their daily lives," Dr Wright said.
“General practice is the cornerstone of endometriosis care.
“By supporting earlier management, shared decision-making and coordinated multidisciplinary care, this initiative has the potential to improve health outcomes and quality of life for people living with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain.”
The EMP is freely available online for clinicians and patients.
As part of this project, the RACGP is running tailored webinars and an eLearning module for clinicians, to better recognise and manage endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain.
For further details on the Endometriosis Management Plan, read the FAQs here.
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