Finding solutions

For many women, daily pain and discomfort is the harsh reality of living with endometriosis.

The inflammatory disease affects an estimated 10 percent of Kiwi women, and with the lack of research and funding, there are barriers to getting a diagnosis.

Some good news is that Endometriosis New Zealand recently announced its new Clinical Advisory Committee (CAC), in place to support the charity’s purpose of improving the lives of those who struggle with endometriosis.

The CAC is made up of volunteer clinical practitioners who have a major interest in endometriosis, including five specialist gynaecologists, two active clinical researchers, one pelvic floor physiotherapist, one clinical psychologist, and one general practitioner.

Chief Executive Officer, Tanya Cooke says, “As Aotearoa’s national endometriosis organisation, we represent the tens of thousands of people living with endometriosis in our country, to help find solutions and improve health outcomes. One of the biggest barriers to this is the quantity of misinformation circulating about the disease.

“The CAC will be working with the ENZ team, to provide and review medical and scientific information, to ensure those with the condition are as informed as possible, in conjunction with improving awareness and understanding of the disease within the wider community,” she says.

The founding CAC members are Dr Michael Wynn-Williams, Dr Sarah Corbett, Caitlin Day, Dr Anna Ponnampalan, Dr Simon McDowell, Dr Fiona Connell,
Dr Keryn Harlow, Leena St Martin, Dr Mike Armour and Dr Orna McGinn.

“I’m looking forward to working with the other members of the Clinical Advisory Committee to guide Endometriosis New Zealand’s strategic direction on clinical issues and provide advice that reflects the perspective of endometriosis sufferers and the wider community,” says Dr Michael Wynn-Williams.