With the Obama administration in place and seeing all the changes that it has been making I can only wonder how they will approach and change the health care policies that are current, as changing the health care system was a large and one of the main issues during the campaign. As a 26 year old woman who was diagnosed with stage IV endometriosis in 2006, I know the struggles of dealing with the current health system. Endometriosis is a reproductive disease in which the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, grows outside the uterus and responses to the changing hormones during the menstruation cycle which can cause internal bleeding, breakdown of the blood and tissue from the endometriosis lesions, and inflammation -- and can cause pain, infertility, scar tissue formation, adhesions, and bowel problems. There is no cure for this disease, but there are treatments to help cope with it, however the current health care system has many obstacles in place so women can't receive even the most simple of treatments. Having this reproductive disease that, although it affects more than 5 million women in North America alone, it is still something that is unknown and that affects the way it is viewed by physicians, employers and health insurance companies. This disease is non- discriminatory and is something that women of all ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds are dealing with on a daily basis and still we are all facing discrimination, preconceived notions and general ignorance regarding treatment for our disease. It is for these reasons that I am hoping the new administration will hold true to their promise of reforming health care laws and policies while making it affordable for all people.
(further info on Endometriosis-www.endometriosisassn.org-education is the beginning to change)

Bria Bentley
14704 Georgetown Ct. Shelby Twp. MI