Media Alert - 66th SOGC Annual Meeting Takes a Hard Look into Endometriosis

- Symposium to reveal new data for the first time in Canada for the overall impact of this painful, debilitating and under-diagnosed disease -

MONTREAL, June 1 /CNW/ -

    
    What:   International endometriosis expert and advocate, Lone Hummelshoj,
    -----   and former president of the Association of Obstetricians and
            Gynecologists of Quebec, Dr. Philippe Y. Laberge will address a
            lunch hour symposium on endometriosis at this year's Annual
            Clinical Meeting of the Society of Obstetricians and
            Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC). They will present for the first
            time in Canada new data on the personal, societal and political
            impact of this chronic disease.

    Why:    There are an estimated 176 million women worldwide with
    ----    endometriosis. Despite the high prevalence of the disease, many
            women are not aware of it and few recognize the symptoms - thus
            causing a significant delay in diagnosis and timely treatment.
            Increased awareness will help women understand that severe pelvic
            pain is not necessarily 'normal' and will help reduce the
            extensive lag between symptom onset, diagnosis and treatment.
    

Symposium attendance and pre-scheduled INTERVIEW, PHOTO and BROADCAST opportunities will be available as follows:

    
    Who:    Lone Hummelshoj: Chief Executive, World Endometriosis Research
    ----    Foundation; Secretary General, World Endometriosis Society;
            Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Endometriosis.org

            Dr. Philippe Y. Laberge: Obstetrician and Gynecologist at the
            CHUL Research Centre (CHUQ), Québec; Full Clinical Professor at
            Université Laval, Québec (Québec)

            Véronique Paquet: Endometriosis patient

    When:   Luncheon Symposium 1: Endometriosis - The Challenge and Choices
    -----   in Disease Management
            Thursday, June 3, 2010
            12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
            Ballroom West
            Media interviews are available following the symposium. Please
            call in advance to arrange an interview.

    Where:  SOGC Annual Clinical Meeting
    ------  Le Centre Sheraton, 1201 Boulevard Rene-Levesque West
            Montréal, Québec

    Endometriosis Quick Facts:

    -   Endometriosis is a painful, inflammatory condition that affects one
        in 10 women of reproductive age, though many are not diagnosed and
        therefore are not being treated.(1)
    -   It is estimated that 176 million women worldwide suffer from
        endometriosis(1) making the disease more common than diabetes, AIDS
        and many other well known diseases.(2),(3)
    -   It frequently takes up to 12 years for a woman to get a confirmed
        diagnosis from the first time she seeks help for her symptoms.(4)
    -   Pain in association with the menstrual period, ovulation and sexual
        intercourse is the most common symptom of endometriosis.
        Endometriosis is also one of the major causes of infertility.(4)

    References
    ---------------------------
    1.  Adamson GD, Kennedy SH, Hummelshoj L. Creating solutions in
        endometriosis: global collaboration through the World Endometriosis
        Research Foundation. Journal of Endometriosis 2010;2(1):3-6.
    2.  http://www.who.int/diabetes/facts/en/diabcare0504.pdf. Accessed 27
        May 2010
    3.  Statistics http://www.avert.org/worlstatinfo.htm. Accessed 27 May
        2010
    4.  Kennedy S, Bergqvist A, Chapron C, D'Hooghe T, Dunselman G, Greb R,
        Hummelshoj L, Prentice A, Saridogan. ESHRE guideline on the diagnosis
        and management of endometriosis. Human Reproduction 2005;20(10):2698-
        2704. Also available online at: http://guidelines.endometriosis.org/
    

For further information: or to schedule an interview, please contact: Jennifer Runza, MS&L, [phone], [email protected]; Patricia Archambault, MS&L, [phone] ext. 1593, On-site Cell: [phone], [email protected]