The ERC Introduces "Girl Talk"

Susan McCool, Girl Talk Program Director

In honor of young women ages 25 and under, the ERC implemented the Girl Talk program in winter 2002/03.  Girl Talk is a support and education program specifically tailored to meet the needs of young women and adolescents from around the world who have, or think they may have, the painful disease Endometriosis.

Far from the "rare" incidence once believed, studies have found that as many as 70% of teenagers and adolescents with chronic pelvic pain had Endometriosis proven by laparoscopy.  Other reports indicate that as many as 41% of patients experienced Endometriosis pain as an adolescent.  Often mistakenly minimized as simply "painful periods" or "killer cramps," the disease can be quite disruptive and cause significant dysfunction, especially at a time in life when self-esteem, school attendance and performance, and social involvement are critical. Recent studies have also shown that Endometriosis may have an even bigger impact on younger patients than older women.  One such study discovered that in patients under 22 years of age, the rate of disease recurrence was double that of older women (35% as compared to 19%); the study also revealed that the disease behaves "differently" in younger women, leading some researchers to feel it is a different form of Endometriosis altogether.

In addition to providing patient advocacy and education, Girl Talk also raises awareness about Endometriosis, provides education, and strives to improve patient care among professionals offering healthcare services to young women.  Girl Talk also serves as a forum in which young women can become active in Endometriosis awareness.  As with all ERC programs, Girl Talk is free to join and participate in, and members can be located anywhere in the world.

All young women with Endometriosis are welcome and encouraged to join the Girl Talk online discussion group, as well as to request any of the ERC's various education materials specifically designed for the younger patient.  The Girl Talk Committee is also currently accepting new applications from those volunteers aged 25 and under, who would like to become active in raising Endometriosis awareness among the lay and medical societies alike.

To join the Girl Talk discussion group, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ERCGirlTalk.  If you would like to join the Girl Talk Committee and help shape the future of Endometriosis awareness, education and patient care, please email Susan McCool, Girl Talk Program Director, directly at ERC SusanSM@aol.com (reference "Girl Talk" in the subject header).

Check out our new Girl Talk Store: http://www.cafepress.com/ercgirltalk