Rachel Hosking suffered immensely from undiagnosed severe endometriosis; she lay on the floor, bleeding heavily, even contemplating whether death would alleviate the pain. It took over five years to get a diagnosis, and since then, she has struggled to afford treatment and other endometriosis-related expenses.
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03-20, 2025Hosking is one of over 830,000 Australians living with endometriosis. She was overjoyed to learn that a new endometriosis drug would be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on May 1, as part of the Labor government's A$573 million investment in women's health. The drug, called Ryeqo, contains relugolix with estradiol and norethisterone acetate and can be used to relieve the symptoms of endometriosis, currently costing around A$140 per month.
With the subsidy, the monthly cost will drop to around A$32. This is the second endometriosis treatment to be subsidized by the federal government in 30 years, following the listing of Visanne on the PBS in December 2024. Hosking herself has not tried the drug, nor has she made any judgments about its effectiveness. She is simply happy to see more affordable treatment options available to the 830,000 Australians living with endometriosis.
"I've tried everything under the sun, so having another new medication on the PBS is potentially beneficial," Hosking told 9news.com.au. "The costs associated with [endometriosis] medication really prevent people from being able to look after their bodies." As a 22-year-old endometriosis research PhD student, Hosking simply cannot afford any unsubsidized endometriosis treatments. She already spends around A$400 per month managing her endometriosis, including medications, physical therapy, hospital bills, and other expenses associated with the condition. "I don't have the funds to treat myself, so I'm kind of in limbo," she said, adding that her treatment options have been severely limited so far.
Endometriosis not only drains patients' bank accounts but also costs the Australian economy A$9.7 billion annually. Dr. Sneha Wadhwani, Clinical Director at Evoca Women's Health Clinics and a family doctor specializing in women's health, said that listing more treatment options on the PBS will help both the Australian economy and the financial situations of those living with endometriosis. Subsidizing the cost of endometriosis medications will save money for individuals like Hosking and make specific treatments more accessible. "If women are able to get up and go to work and function to their full capacity, then that obviously has a positive impact on the economy," Wadhwani said. "If our girls are able to attend school every day and not have to miss school because of pain associated with endometriosis...they're going to achieve better and be more productive members of society."
By investing in better endometriosis treatments, the federal government is investing in the future for nearly one million Australians living with the condition, as well as a better economy. Wadhwani added that endometriosis affects people from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds, so providing affordable treatment options is crucial. Furthermore, listing endometriosis treatments on the PBS will help expand the range of treatment options available to patients, making them more likely to find a combination that works. "We know that a quarter to a third of women don't respond to their first line of treatment," Wadhwani said, so it is essential to provide more options to try.
But treatment options are just one stepping stone in addressing the problem of endometriosis in Australia. If one in seven Australian women are to thrive, then the government (whether Labor or Liberal, after the 2025 federal election) must continue to invest long-term in endometriosis research, diagnosis, treatment, and other services. "We're currently like on the fifth level of hell," Hosking said of the current situation for endometriosis sufferers in Australia, "it would be nice to move up a level or two."
