Helping Physicians Help Their Patients

Endometriosis is a painful reproductive and immunological disease afflicting over 7 million American women and teens, with millions more worldwide (twice the number of Alzheimer's patients and seven times those with Parkinson's Disease).  The illness is a leading cause of female infertility, chronic pelvic pain and gynecologic surgery, and accounts for nearly half of the 500,000 hysterectomies performed in the United States annually.  It is more prevalent than breast cancer, yet continues to be treated as an insignificant, obscure ailment.  Recent studies have even shown an elevated risk of certain cancers in women with Endometriosis. The average delay in diagnosis is a startling 9 years, and a woman will go through as many as 5 physicians before she is properly diagnosed and treated.

Even in this age of medical advances, Endometriosis remains a conundrum to patients and practitioners alike.  The disease can only be diagnosed definitively through invasive surgery, and while there are several theories, researchers remain unsure as to the definitive cause of Endometriosis.  The disease knows no racial or socio-economic barriers, and can affect women ranging from adolescence to post-menopause.  Once touted as mythical treatments, we know today that "pregnancy" and "hysterectomy" are far from curative - worse still: there is no absolute cure.  The disease can be so painful as to render a woman or teen unable to care for herself or her family or attend work, school or social functions.  Endometriosis affects every aspect of a woman's life, from her self-esteem to her relationships to her ability to be a contributing member of society.

The ERC is an established 501(c)3 tax-exempt, tax-deductible organization founded by Executive Director Michelle E. Marvel in early 1997 to address the growing International need for Endometriosis research, education, awareness and support.  The ERC is unique in that unlike similar organizations, there is no fee to join, participate in or benefit from the ERC's programs.  With world headquarters located in South Florida, USA, the organization is pleased to host a virtual network of staff and volunteers around the world who help implement the ERC's various programs in the online and local communities on a global basis.
 
Endometriosis, while not life-threatening, can indeed be life-altering for many.  Our organization can help you and your patients by providing you with our authoritative, accurate information and access to our many support networks.

While we do not screen, recommend or endorse any particular physicians to our members, we can aid them in their search by identifying those medical professionals who have an interest in the disease.  We invite you to join our growing registry of caring physicians today: order educational ERC brochures for your office, give a presentation to a support group meeting, subscribe and contribute to the ERC monthly Newsletter, order the latest Endometriosis articles or other materials from the ERC, participate in our Professional Advisory Panel, make a tax-deductible charitable contribution towards our various programs, or otherwise support our mission in your own way.  Together, we can make a difference in the lives of your patients, so contact us today!

Check out our Adopt-a-Doc program today! http://www.endocenter.org/adoptadoctor.htm