Days off for endometriosis diagnosis and treatment – is it enough?

By Tiahna Fiddling

This week the Health Services Union begin their push, petitioning the Albanese government for 12 days reproductive leave to be added to the National Employment Standards. 

The leave would include time off for diagnosis and treatment for endometriosis.   

CQU Senior Lecturer and sonographer, Dr Jennifer Alphonse welcomed the initiative but highlights more is needed when it comes to endometriosis. 

“The time away from work, which can be due to the debilitating pain, diagnostic imaging and surgery, needs to be acknowledged, but this is only the tip of the iceberg,” Dr Alphonse said. 

“Endometriosis has no cure, but women with endometriosis require specialist treatment, and the first step is accurate diagnosis.”  

As a specialist sonographer herself, Dr Alphonse said ultrasound should be the leading method for endometriosis diagnosis.

“Ultrasound has long been the most cost effective, accessible diagnostic imaging tool and does not involve radiation. 

“Performed by a sonographer or sonologist, a transvaginal ultrasound can image deep into the pelvis, locate, measure and map deposits of endometriosis, determining the involvement of adjacent organs and adhesions,” she explained. 

“This highly specialised ultrasound imaging technique saves the patient both time and money as the surgical team can be assembled prior to surgery, which may include a specialist gynaecologist, colorectal surgeon and urologist. 

“In the past, the patient may have had a laparoscopy scheduled, only to be awakened by the surgeon who could not begin the surgery as there was too much pelvic involvement.”

In 2022, the Morrison government included endometriosis under a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) item number, which costs $441, compared to a pelvic ultrasound, which is $190. 

“Ultrasound and MRI are equal when it comes to endometriosis diagnosis, but where ultrasound betters MRI is determining you do not have endometriosis,” Dr Alphonse said.

“Also, ultrasound assesses the mobility of pelvic organs in real-time, something MRI just cannot do. Not to mention for patients with body cavity implants, MRI is contraindicated and for patients with claustrophobia, an MRI is not an option.

“If there were more sonographers trained in this specialised ultrasound imaging technique, then more women would have access to this technology, saving them both time and money.”

She recommended additional funding for both patients requiring specialist pelvic ultrasounds, and more support for sonography students to combat these issues.  

“Having an ultrasound item number for specialist pelvic ultrasound when the indication is endometriosis with greater rebate,” Dr Alphonse said.

“Additionally, sonographers have been on the Australian workforce shortage list for over 10 years. If there were paid clinical training placements for sonography students this would enable more sonographers into the workforce, so the more experienced sonographers can get upskilled to perform specialist endometriosis pelvic ultrasound.”