For many rural and regional women living with endometriosis or chronic pelvic pain, accessing specialist care can involve long wait times, significant travel and ongoing uncertainty.
A new national Endometriosis Management Plan (EMP) aims to help women work with their local GP to better manage symptoms and make informed decisions about their care, regardless of where they live.
Launched this month, the EMP is Australia’s first national care planning tool for endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. The online, personalised plan translates the latest clinical guidelines into a practical resource that patients and GPs can use together during consultations.
Endometriosis affects up to one in seven Australian women by the age of 50 and has no known cure. While treatment options are available, many women experience years of symptoms before receiving a diagnosis, with the average diagnostic delay remaining around eight years.
For women in rural and regional communities, these challenges can be compounded by difficulties accessing specialist services. The new EMP is designed to ensure that symptom management and care planning can begin with a trusted local GP, even while patients are waiting for further investigations or specialist appointments.
Professor Danielle Mazza AM, Head of Monash University’s Department of General Practice, Director of SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence and project lead, said the plan was developed to ensure women are supported throughout their care journey.
“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.
The web-based plan helps guide conversations around the issues that matter most to each patient, including pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, fertility concerns and mental health. It also supports discussions about treatment options, referrals, self-management strategies and multidisciplinary care.
At the end of the consultation, patients receive a personalised digital or printed care plan that can be reviewed and updated with their GP over time. The tool also connects patients with information, support services and allied health options, such as physiotherapy for chronic pelvic pain.
For women outside major cities, where the GP is often the primary point of contact for healthcare, the EMP offers a structured way to coordinate care and better understand available options and supports.
Importantly, the EMP was co-designed with people living with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, as well as GPs, specialists and other healthcare professionals. This collaborative approach was intended to ensure the tool meets patients’ needs while fitting into the realities of everyday general practice.
For 25-year-old Florrie, who has lived with endometriosis pain for nearly a decade, feeling heard by healthcare professionals would have made a significant difference to her experience.
“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,” she said.
The launch comes as research highlights the growing role of general practice in endometriosis care, with increasing numbers of women receiving endometriosis-related care through their GP.
The Endometriosis Management Plan is now freely available online for both patients and clinicians. Women experiencing symptoms of endometriosis or chronic pelvic pain are encouraged to speak with their GP about whether the plan could help support their care and improve management of their symptoms.
Find out more about the Endometriosis Management Plan and talk to your GP about whether it may be suitable for you.
Funding for this project was provided by the Australian Government, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The Endometriosis Management Plan project was delivered in a partnership between Monash University, through the SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence, and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
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