The Need for Endometriosis Awareness: A Case Study of College Students and Medical Professionals

10-15% of individuals with a uterus at reproductive age have endometriosis, an estrogen-dependent chronic illness in which tissue similar to endometrial tissue develops outside of the uterine cavity. On average, it takes 6.7 years after the onset of symptoms for individuals with endometriosis to receive an accurate diagnosis. This delay in diagnosis, along with recent studies on endometriosis, suggest a severe lack of education on endometriosis within both the medical community and the general public. There is literature that suggests there is a strong need for more education and awareness of endometriosis in the global medical community. However, there is a lack of literature that addresses the knowledge of college-age individuals in the United States on endometriosis. This project will consist of a focus group at Southern New Hampshire University that will determine the knowledge of college-age individuals on endometriosis. This project seeks to close that knowledge gap and determine the level of knowledge college-age individuals in the United States possess in regard to endometriosis.