In Asia, it’s believed that a greater proportion of
women suffer from the condition than in the West, but
researchers are unable to pinpoint the numbers or
identify exactly the cause of this greater incidence.
According to Dr Chih-Fen Yen of the Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Chang Gung
Memorial Hospital in Linkou, Taiwan, the prevalence
of endometriosis is suspected to be higher in Asian
women, affecting approximately 15 percent of those
at childbearing age, compared to 5-10 percent in the
West.
Beyond this estimate, little more is known about the
epidemiology of the condition in Asia. It also doesn’t
help that the available data tend to be just estimates
based on old and poor-quality research.
For example, in Malaysia, there has been no
data compiled at all even though diagnoses of
endometriosis are thought to be rising. According
to one study, the world saw a “small but statistically
GlobalHealthAndTravel.com
significant” average increase of 1.6 percent each year
between 2000 and 2015.
But despite mounting cases, Malaysian authorities
have shown little interest in gathering data so
researchers can investigate its epidemiology more
thoroughly.
Surita Mogan, a Malaysian who has suffered from
endometriosis for decades, believes the only way to
properly record trends in the country is for patients to
do it themselves.
In March, her patient group, MyEndosis, will launch
a national survey in collaboration with Malaysian
hospitals, in tandem with a new website to provide
patients with support.
“Awareness is very low here in Malaysia, and we
don’t even have statistics of how many females have
this. We’re trying to create awareness,” Surita told
Global Health Asia-Pacific.
Across Malaysia’s multi-ethnic communities,
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