A South Australian endometriosis specialist will host information sessions on the silent disease in Warrnambool next week.
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Doctor Susan Evans is a gynecologist and specialist pain medicine physician who is passionate about the care of women with endometriosis and period and pelvic pain.
Endometriosis is a chronic menstrual health disorder affecting around 700,000 Australian women and girls.
It often causes debilitating pain and organ damage, and can lead to mental health complications and infertility.
Dr Evans said she was excited to meet Warrnambool women and help them understand how to manage their overall pain.
"One of the most common observations is that women wished they had more information earlier in their pain journey," she said.
"A lot of women's pain problems start quite early in their lives, maybe with bad period pain as a teenager, but over the years things can get more complicated with a wider range of symptoms.
"Those symptoms can range from fatigue to mood disorder, bladder pain, irritable bowel, painful intercourse, migraines and food intolerance.
"No health practitioner comes out of training with all the skills required to manage all of these complex things. This means everybody needs to upskill in areas outside of their comfort zones.
"While in Warrnambool I will talk to the women suffering from the disease as well as health practitioners keen on upskilling."
Dr Evans will host a community information evening at Warrnambool's Legacy House on March 29 and a presentation and workshop at Lady Bay Resort the following day.
Warrnambool's Bev King, who is a board member of the Endo Help Foundation, said the two events were a city first.
"One in ten women suffer endometriosis, so there must be a great deal of need for something like this here in Warrnambool," she said.
"I have heard Dr Evans speak and answer people's questions, and she really is brilliant. She has a lot of information that is really helpful for those suffering from endo or period and pelvic pain problems."
Ms King said the Friday event was open to the general public to find out more information and ask questions on a personal basis.
She said Saturday's workshop was run by the primary health network and aimed at industry professionals.
"Our aim is to get nurses that can help these girls manage their symptoms here in Warrnambool," she said.
"With no cure, we think a nurse could help girls to manage their own conditions. At the moment we've got women who go to a doctor, get their diagnosis and then have no idea where to go.
"There is only one endo nurse based in a hospital setting throughout Australia. We want to see them everywhere, especially here in Warrnambool."
The community information evening will be held from 7pm Friday. Tickets are $10 with supper provided.
Registrations for the presentation and workshop will be open between 9.30am and 10am Saturday. For more information, visit the Western Victoria primary health network website.
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