Endometriosis
People have been talking about endometriosis for over 100 years. Yet the questions about this medical condition are just as rare as are substantiated truths.
According to its current definition, 1.5% to 50% of women of childbearing age and 80% of those who experience painful menstruation could have endometriosis. This extraordinarily vague definition has transformed endometriosis into a very lucrative business for many: the pharmaceutical industry, surgeons, fertility centers, certification agencies, etc.
Under the banner of “raising awareness”, they all seek to attract “undiagnosed” women, whereas no panacea exists to treat it.
Articles:
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2011: «Médias instrumentalisés par la pharma?» (Has the media been manipulated by the pharmaceutical industry?), by Catherine Riva
When a pharmaceutical company encourages journalists to talk about an illness, to ensure information of good quality is it enough not to mention the name of the treatment marketed by the company, and solicit experts? A recent example shows that nothing is less certain.
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2012: «Endométriose: à qui profite le mal?» Endometriosis: who benefits from the disease?), by Catherine Riva
Endometriosis is often presented in the media and on the Internet as a disease affecting up to “35%” of women, which must be treated “before it gets worse”. Reality is more complex. However, this approach ends up attracting “undiagnosed women”.
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2017: «Endométriose à 36.9: complément d’enquête Re-Check» (In the TV show 36.9 about endometriosis: additional investigation by Re-Check)
The show 36.9 on Swiss Television RTS featured Catherine Riva’s previously published investigations on the business of endometriosis and the use of the media to “call out undiagnosed women”, exposing conflicts of interest and disease mongering. Re-Check contributed to the show with an additional investigation.
