The Scale of the Problem
Endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and uterine fibroids together affect tens of millions of women in the United States. They cause chronic pain, infertility, depression, and significant impairment of daily functioning. The research investment in these conditions has been consistently inadequate relative to their prevalence and burden.
The average time from symptom onset to endometriosis diagnosis is seven to ten years — one of the most staggering diagnostic failures in modern medicine. Women are routinely told their pain is normal, that menstrual symptoms are expected, and that their experience does not warrant urgent investigation. It does.
The Research Deficit
NIH funding for reproductive health conditions does not reflect their prevalence. Endometriosis receives research investment that is a fraction of what comparably prevalent conditions in men attract. This disparity is not primarily scientific — it is cultural. Conditions associated with menstruation and female anatomy have historically been underfunded, understudied, and underrepresented in clinical training curricula.
The Equity Dimension
Uterine fibroids are a racial equity issue. Black women develop fibroids at earlier ages, with higher frequency and greater severity than white women. They are underrepresented in fibroid research and underserved in fibroid care. Any serious reproductive health policy agenda must address this disparity explicitly.
What We Track
We follow NIH reproductive health funding levels, FDA approvals for endometriosis and PCOS treatments, legislative efforts to fund reproductive health research, and clinical guideline updates affecting diagnosis and treatment pathways.
