Teen's painful endometriosis journey highlights gaps in global guidelines

Melbourne resident Konstandina Karavias began experiencing abnormal bleeding at 12 and an ovarian cyst at 13, but her requests for imaging were repeatedly denied, leading to a delayed diagnosis of endometriosis only after surgery at 19. She attributes the prolonged ordeal to ageism and insufficient training among health professionals. Researchers from the University of Queensland examined 47 worldwide endometriosis guidelines and discovered that many were not informed by young patients, with primary-care doctors absent from over half of the development processes.

The study highlighted notable gaps in guidelines from African and Eastern Mediterranean regions and pointed out that only a minority addressed the needs of gender-diverse or non-binary individuals. While Australia is praised for its National Action Plan launched in 2018, experts say further reforms are needed. The authors recommend that the World Health Organization create unified, patient-centred guidelines to improve diagnosis and treatment consistency.