ENDOMETRIOSIS – HOPE FOR NEW THERAPIES
Breakthrough research and growing public awareness are finally driving progress in the treatment of endometriosis – a long-neglected condition that affects nearly 200 million women of reproductive age.
Endometriosis affects around one in ten women of reproductive age. This chronic condition often goes undiagnosed for years, and its symptoms are frequently dismissed. As a result, correct diagnosis still takes between seven and ten years. Symptoms range from severe abdominal pain to infertility. The documentary follows women affected by endometriosis in their daily lives, during examinations, surgery and awareness campaigns, and it highlights breakthroughs in science. Researchers in France, Germany and the United Kingdom are working on innovative treatment and diagnostic methods, such as a groundbreaking saliva test. In Lyon, high-intensity focused ultrasound is being used as a non-invasive alternative to treat severe cases. Meanwhile, genetic research in Oxford is paving the way for individualised, targeted therapies without hormones. Despite medical progress, education remains key. With the help of apps, information campaigns and influential advocates, public awareness is growing. Endometriosis is not just a “women’s problem”, it is a broader societal challenge. The documentary also explores structural questions: Why are menstrual pains still so often trivialised? Which gaps remain in healthcare provision?