We fund excision surgery
for people with endometriosis.
Because access to the gold standard of care shouldn't depend on privilege, location, or insurance.
The First Ever Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Capitol Hill Day, March 10th 2026
The Scope of the Problem
- NIH endometriosis research funding works out to roughly $2.00 per patient per year — just 0.038% of the NIH budget, despite affecting an estimated 6.5 million women in the U.S.1
- By comparison, NIH funding equates to roughly $31.30 per woman with diabetes and $130.07 per patient with Crohn's disease.1
- Diagnosis is typically delayed 4–11 years from first symptoms.1
- Direct and indirect costs in the U.S. total an estimated ~$28,000 per patient annually (~$12,118 direct + ~$16,000 in lost productivity).1,2
- In a national survey of patients, 1 in 6 women reported losing their job as a result of endometriosis.3
- 1.Ellis K, Munro D, Clarke J. Endometriosis Is Undervalued: A Call to Action. Frontiers in Global Women's Health, 2022. doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2022.902371
- 2.Soliman AM, et al. Real-World Evaluation of Direct and Indirect Economic Burden Among Endometriosis Patients in the United States. Advances in Therapy, 2018. doi.org/10.1007/s12325-018-0667-3
- 3.Armour M, et al. Endometriosis and the workplace: lessons from Australia's response to COVID-19. Southern Cross University / Western Sydney University national survey, 2021. scu.edu.au
Endometriosis ranks as the third leading gynecological cause of hospitalization for girls, women, and persons AFAB.
Despite being categorized as a gynecological condition, endometriosis is a full-body, systemic, and chronic inflammatory disease that can impact multiple organs and systems beyond the reproductive tract.
Annual U.S. economic burden of endometriosis1
Average time to a diagnosis2
Incremental per-patient cost in the first year of diagnosis (inflation-adjusted)3
Higher risk of suicide among patients with endometriosis4
Women of reproductive age affected worldwide2
Of women with infertility are found to have endometriosis7
Saved per 100 patients over 5 years with an excision-first approach6
Higher risk of mental health disorders vs. those without endometriosis4
Endometriosis imposes an estimated $69.4 billion annually on the U.S. economy — a toll measured not only in direct healthcare spending, but in lost productivity, absenteeism, and disability.1 Patients face more than $18,000 in incremental costs in the first year of diagnosis alone, driven by repeat surgeries, imaging, medications, and emergency care.3
Today, CMS reimburses a one-hour ablation the same as a six-to-ten hour complex excision5 — incentivizing the wrong procedure and sending patients back for repeat surgeries that drive avoidable federal spending. An excision-first approach is estimated to save $200,000–$500,000 per 100 patients over five years, while delivering better long-term outcomes.6
- 1.Soliman AM, et al. Real-World Evaluation of Direct and Indirect Economic Burden Among Endometriosis Patients in the United States. Advances in Therapy, 2018. springer.com
- 2.Smolarz B, Szyłło K, Romanowicz H. Endometriosis: Epidemiology, Classification, Pathogenesis, Treatment and Genetics. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2024. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3.Surrey ES, et al. Real-World Direct and Indirect Costs Among Patients with Endometriosis. Adv Ther, 2020 (incremental cost adjusted for inflation to 2024 USD).
- 4.Premature mortality and suicide risk associated with endometriosis and uterine fibroids. BMJ, 2024. bmj.com
- 5.EEFA / G2G Consulting. Letter to Congress on CMS endometriosis surgery coding and reimbursement, January 2026.
- 6.The Cost-Effectiveness of Surgical Excision of Endometriosis. Pacific Endometriosis, 2025. pacificendometriosis.com
- 7.Harris A, Tsaltas J. Endometriosis and Infertility: A Systematic Review. J Endometr Pelvic Pain Disord, 2017. journals.sagepub.com
The conversation is changing.
Advancing Earlier Recognition of Endometriosis Through Patient Advocacy
How to Get Doctors to Take You Seriously About Pain
Doctors Dismissed My Pain for Years, Calling It Anxiety. Getting the Right Diagnosis Changed My Life.
Speaking Out on Endometriosis & Medical Gaslighting
First-Ever Women's Health Capitol Hill Day
Coverage of Women's Health Hill Day
Help end the wait for surgery. And give someone their life back.
All donations fund excision surgeries for patients in need. We are volunteer-run, and both operational and policy work are fully covered by our founder.
Make a donation
100% goes directly to funding surgery.
A small gift each month becomes someone's surgery.
Recurring donations are the steady heartbeat behind every surgery we fund. They let us say yes to the next patient on the waitlist — without waiting for the next campaign, the next grant, the next miracle.
One coffee a week. Ten patients reached this year. A waitlist that finally moves.
a year of hope for one patient's intake
covers a pre-op consultation
funds essential surgical supplies
Multiply that across our community — and waitlists shrink, lives change.
She's Not Dramatic, She's Been Dismissed.
She's Not Dramatic is a campaign that shatters the harmful stereotypes surrounding women's pain, especially for those living with endometriosis. For too long, patients like Nicole have been dismissed, misdiagnosed, and gaslit by a medical system that treats them as emotional instead of ill.
In partnership with the SHE+ Foundation, Nicole shares her story to raise awareness about the reality of endometriosis and the urgent need for access to proper diagnosis and excision surgery.
Listen to Nicole's 1:1 interviewReading for the long wait.
Excision Isn't Always the First Answer: Why Endometriosis Needs a Whole-Body Approach
How to Find an Endometriosis Excision Specialist and Questions to Ask
How Medicare's Physician Payment System Shaped Care Incentives — and Why It Still Affects Patients Today
The Staggering Cost of UTIs: How a Common Infection Drains $3.5 Billion Annually
The Endo Education Podcast.
We only speak with endometriosis specialists, medical professionals, and advocates, bringing you expert-led conversations on excision, diagnosis, and patient care.
Why Excision Surgery for Endometriosis with Dr. Mallory Stuparich
Specialized Imaging & Delayed Diagnosis with Dr. Miguel Luna Russo
Vulvodynia & Endometriosis with Dr. Clauda Chisari
Pelvic Pain & Bladder Endometriosis with Dr. Yaniv Larish
IVF and Endometriosis Equity with Ema Lazzaroni, MS, CTSS
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Hip Pain & Endometriosis with Dr. Ginger Garner
Please review before applying
Due to limited funding and a high volume of requests, EEFA’s surgical financial assistance program is currently limited to applicants whose gross annual household income—income before taxes—is at or below 200% of the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines, based on household size and state of residence.
Applicants must provide documentation verifying financial eligibility. If your income has recently decreased because of illness, reduced work hours, or job loss, please provide documentation reflecting your current circumstances. We assess your current monthly household income before taxes multiplied by 12.
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee assistance. Funding is limited, and priority is given to applicants with the greatest demonstrated financial need.
2026 annual household income limits
For the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC. Separate limits apply to Alaska and Hawaii; select your state below to see the applicable chart.
| Household size | Maximum annual income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $111,440 |
For each additional household member above 8, add $11,360.
Who counts: Include yourself, your spouse or partner, and financially dependent children or adults. Count the total income before taxes of these household members. Do not include unrelated roommates or their income.
These federal guidelines do not define limits for U.S. territories or other countries. If you live outside the 50 states or Washington, DC, please contact us before starting.
Source: HHS 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines