Supporting the designation of March 2021 as Endometriosis Awareness Month.

IV 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 152 Supporting the designation of March 2021 as Endometriosis Awareness Month. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 23, 2021 Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia (for himself, Miss GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N, Ms. BASS, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. BROWN, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. COHEN, Mrs. DEMINGS, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. HASTINGS, Mrs. HAYES, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. JAYAPAL, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mrs. LAWRENCE, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. MENG, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PETERS, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. THOMPSON of Mis- sissippi, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. FUDGE, Mrs. AXNE, Ms. STEVENS, Ms. SCANLON, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. LOWENTHAL, and Mr. LARSEN of Wash- ington) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Supporting the designation of March 2021 as Endometriosis Awareness Month. Whereas endometriosis is a disease in which the type of tis- sue that normally grows in the uterus (the endometrium) also grows outside of the uterus; Whereas endometriosis is one of the most common gyneco- logical diseases in women, and occurs in 1 in 10 women of reproductive age; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:06 Feb 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR152.IH HR152 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 152 IH Whereas endometriosis has no known cure; Whereas the cause of endometriosis is not known, but risk factors include having a mother, sister, or daughter with endometriosis, periods that started at an early age, monthly cycles that are short, and menstrual cycles that are heavy and last more than seven days; Whereas the only way currently available to be certain of an endometriosis diagnosis is to have a surgical procedure known as a laparoscopy; Whereas endometriosis primarily affects women in their 30s and 40s, but can affect any woman who menstruates; Whereas women experience a delay from three to eleven years between the first symptoms of pain and the final endo- metriosis diagnosis, which can lead to lower quality of life and high medical costs; Whereas for many girls and women, endometriosis is a life- long chronic disease that can affect relationships, school, work, fertility, and daily life; Whereas the primary symptoms of endometriosis include pain and infertility, and many with endometriosis live with de- bilitating, chronic pain; Whereas endometriosis is one of the three main causes of fe- male infertility, and between 30 and 50 percent of women with endometriosis experience infertility; Whereas health care providers must focus on managing the symptoms of endometriosis, which may include IVF, low- dose oral contraceptives, IUDs, painkillers (NSAIDs), and GnRH therapy; and Whereas there is a need for further research and increased research funding for endometriosis, which could lead to VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:06 Feb 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR152.IH HR152 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 152 IH earlier detection and the discovery of the cause of the dis- ease, a reliable, less invasive way to diagnose the disease, more effective ways to manage symptoms, and a cure: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) strongly supports the goals and ideas of 2 Endometriosis Awareness Month; 3 (2) recognizes the need for early detection and 4 treatment of endometriosis, increased education for 5 health care providers, and more culturally competent 6 care; 7 (3) remains committed to supporting and fund- 8 ing endometriosis research for more effective treat- 9 ments, increasing fertility, and, ultimately, a cure; 10 and 11 (4) encourages the people of the United States 12 to observe the month with appropriate awareness 13 and educational activities. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:06 Feb 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR152.IH HR152 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS