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Endometriosis: Europe’s wake-up call on the gender health gap (debate)
Endometriosis is evidence of how research, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting women unfortunately still remain outside the mainstream of medicine. This disease should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible, because its long-term effects can lead to dangerous and tragic complications for patients. Today, the average delay in diagnosis is as much as 7-10 years. These are often years of uncertainty, helplessness and suffering in anticipation of a proper diagnosis. Education of doctors and patients, social campaigns and scientific research should be one of the priorities of strategies to combat endometriosis. Women's health in Europe is a goal that has no political colors. A Europe of equality is not just about equality in wages, opportunities in the labour market or freedom of choice. A Europe of equality in the 21st century is a Europe where clinical trials and therapies dedicated to women are designed with women in mind. The European Union is a community, and in this community, no citizen's health should be of lesser value on grounds of gender.