Reps. Rendon, Faris, Bizon, Liberati, Theis, Green, Wittenberg, Kahle, Greig, Allor, Canfield, Chirkun, Gay-Dagnogo, Jones, Lasinski, Maturen, Sabo, Sneller, Sowerby, Webber and Whiteford offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 260.

            A resolution to declare March 2018 as Endometriosis Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, Endometriosis is a disease of the female reproductive system. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to that normally found in the uterus begins to grow outside of the uterus, leading to chronic, debilitating pelvic pain; and

Whereas, Endometriosis is a leading cause of female infertility. Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age in the United States. There is an average of a 10 year delay from the onset of symptoms to the final diagnosis of endometriosis; and

Whereas, American endometriosis patients were hospitalized 105,123 days in 2010 because of their disease. Women with endometriosis can lose 11 hours per work week through lost productivity and absenteeism due to pain. Fifty-one percent of endometriosis patients report that their condition detrimentally affects their job; and

Whereas, The estimated total annual societal burden of endometriosis-related symptoms in the U.S. is $56 billion, or $10,824 per patient; and

Whereas, There is no cure for endometriosis. More research is necessary to develop treatment options to manage this debilitating disease. Education is important for promoting awareness of symptoms and early detection and diagnosis of endometriosis; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare March 2018 as Endometriosis Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.