Banner image features Rachel G., Grateful Patient, BC Women’s Centre of Pelvic Pain + Endometriosis and her surgical scars during her endometriosis health journey.
Research is a key component to the advancement of women’s and newborn health. However, less than 6% of Canada’s national health research funding is dedicated to studying the unique health needs of women. This is a stunning disparity that leaves critical gaps in both the understanding and advancement of women’s health.
Research is the catalyst for care and BC Women’s Health Foundation is dedicated to fueling the research that leads to new discoveries that improve healthcare for women and babies in British Columbia. This blogs series introduces you to some of the dedicated medical experts who have devoted themselves to filling knowledge gaps and advancing care for patients.
Using research to better diagnose and
personalize care for women with endometriosis
Endometriosis affects one in 10 women, but it takes five years on average for a woman in Canada to be diagnosed. The annual cost in Canada is about $2.5 billion in healthcare and lost productivity. The condition is pervasive and there is no cure, which is why research is so critical.
For approximately 2 million Canadian women, the devastating effects of endometriosis include debilitating pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding and even infertility. For this reason, finding ways to diagnose the condition quickly and provide effective and personalized treatment is critical.
At the BC Women’s Centre for Pelvic Pain + Endometriosis, Dr. Paul Yong and his team are leading groundbreaking research projects to change the future of endometriosis care. With the help of Women’s Health Research Institute’s Catalyst Grants, made possible by BC Women’s Health Foundation donors, their work is making real progress in diagnosing, treating and improving the lives of women with this condition.
Key Research Projects:
Genetic Breakthroughs in Endometriosis
Dr. Yong’s team has collaborated with ovarian cancer researchers to discover that certain gene mutations—ones also found in cancer—are linked to more severe cases of endometriosis. This could lead to a new way to classify endometriosis based on genetics, helping doctors predict severity and tailor treatments accordingly.
Sharing Patient Stories Through Film
To shed light on the real-life impact of endometriosis, Dr. Fuchsia Howard, 2023 Catalyst Grant winner, and Dr. Yong’s team are working to create short documentary-style videos featuring patient experiences. These powerful films are now part of a national study to assess their impact, not just for education but also as a potential therapeutic tool for those living with the disease.
Training healthcare providers for faster diagnoses
A significant challenge in endometriosis care is the long wait for diagnosis. Dr. Howard, Dr. Yong and post-doctoral fellow Dr. Natasha Orr are leading a project that focuses on training medical students and healthcare professionals to better recognize symptoms, ensuring that women get diagnosed—and treated—sooner.
Improving pain management + treatment options
Another study is exploring how health care trainees can be better taught how to perform a pelvic exam that is accurate, patient-centred and trauma-informed, paving the way for better assessment methods for endometriosis. As well, Dr. Yong’s research into how endometriosis causes pain may one day lead to non-hormonal medications for endometriosis, providing women with more choices in their care.
The Power Of Research
Catalyst Grants provide critical funding to kickstart high-risk, high-reward research—projects that may otherwise struggle to receive traditional funding. Many of these studies have already led to larger grants, advancing the field of endometriosis research even further. Dr. Yong envisions a future where treatments are personalized, and women no longer have to wait years for answers. “We’re looking for a paradigm shift in how we treat this condition,” he says. “With continued research, we hope to develop treatments that target the root cause of endometriosis, not just the symptoms.”
Please support the critical work of some of our most dedicated and passionate medical researchers. Your donation can help advance new breakthroughs, test new theories, collect and analyze critical data, and put BC at the forefront of innovation in research, which translates to the highest level of care to patient care for moms, newborns and families across our province.
