Singer tells of living with disease

Endometriosis - a condition suffered by as many as one in five New Zealand women and one of the leading causes of infertility - will be the subject of a public forum in Auckland tonight.

Goldenhorse singer Kirsten Morelle will open the forum with a personal account of living with endometriosis.

Five specialist gynaecologists will speak about treatment.

Auckland City Hospital gynaecologist Dr Neil Johnson said that often women did not know they had endometriosis but it could have a profound impact on their quality of life.

"Some sufferers may have no symptoms while others might experience severe abdominal cramps, intestinal pain or pain during or after sex," he said.

"A lot of women do live with the symptoms and they have come to recognise it as part of their normal existence."

The condition occurs when uterus-like tissue grows outside the uterus, usually in the pelvic area. The tissue bleeds during menstruation but the blood cannot escape and cysts develop. The cysts are responsible for much of the pain women experience.

Dr Johnson said endometriosis, which can affect women at any time during their reproductive years, could be confirmed only by a laparoscopy.

There was no cure but it could be managed through surgery, pain medication or by hormonetherapy.

The aim of the forum - hosted by the New Zealand Endometriosis Foundation and Auckland City Hospital - was to educate women about available treatments and the team approach to managing the condition, which involved nurses, psychologists, gynaecologists, colorectal surgeons and urologists.

New Zealand Endometriosis Foundation chief executive Deborah Bush said there was still room for improvement in the diagnosis of endometriosis in New Zealand.

International figures indicated there was an average wait of seven to 11 years from presentation of symptoms to diagnosis. A small New Zealand study in 2002 found the wait was 12 years.

An education programme, which had been running in Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough, had resulted in more teenagers with symptoms being diagnosed and treated appropriately.

When & where

* The forum will be held at the clinical education centre, level 5, Auckland City Hospital, tonight at 7.15. A $5 donation to the New Zealand Endometriosis Foundation is requested.