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The Endometriosis CARE Act
The Minerva Project • February 20, 2026
Last December, the Endometriosis CARE Act was reintroduced in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, reviving a bill that could significantly reshape how endometriosis is researched, diagnosed, and treated in the United States. If passed, the legislation would allocate $50 million toward endometriosis research and education. It also seeks to address structural inequities in care by expanding insurance coverage and improving the accessibility of culturally and linguistically appropriate health information, steps that could help close longstanding gaps in healthcare accessibility.
The bill’s reintroduction underscores both its importance and the uphill battle it faces. It has not yet passed but has the potential to be transformative. Around 1 in 10 women worldwide are diagnosed with endometriosis, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and under-researched chronic diseases. One of the most persistent misconceptions is that endometriosis occurs only in the uterus, when in reality, the condition can involve tissue from the bladder all the way to the lungs. Because the disease is frequently framed narrowly as a gynecological or menstrual issue, research funding and clinical training have not always reflected its complexity.
The struggle to secure funding and recognition for endometriosis reflects a broader pattern in which conditions predominantly affecting women receive less research investment and attention. Addressing this gap is not only about improving the scale of treatment, but also confronting structural gender inequities that shape prioritization of certain diseases in healthcare.
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