einstyled

● Women should not normalize extreme period pain as this could be a sign of endometriosis.

● Together with its partners from international and local medical societies, Bayer supported the 2023 Asian Congress on
Endometriosis this 2023 held at Marriott Manila Hotel to help healthcare providers (HCPs) address delayed diagnosis and
treatment of endometriosis.

● Bayer advocates for more Conversations of Care around women’s health and encourages more Filipino women to seek
free OB-GYNE consultations in selected partner drugstores from September to October 2023.

Manila, Philippines – Over 10% or 190 million women and girls of reproductive age globally are affected
by severe pain associated with endometriosis, a painful gynecological disease in which the lining of the
uterus grows outside of it, and this burden affects more women in Asia. Yet misconceptions about
endometriosis, such as extreme period pain, are something women still view as part of the norm–
resulting in prolonged pain and delayed treatment.

Bayer Philippines, in collaboration with its partners from the Society of Endometriosis and Uterine
Disorders (SEUD) and the Philippine Society for Reproductive Medicine (PRSM), calls for more
conversations of care and action to eliminate pain associated with endometriosis by supporting the Asian
Congress on Endometriosis (ACE) in the Philippines this year.

OB-GYNE and Asian Congress on Endometriosis 2023 Congress President Dr. Angela Aguilar shared during the Endometriosis
Masterclass that prevalence rates of the disease are reportedly higher in Asia compared to other continents.
According to Dr. Angela Aguilar, OB-GYNE and ACE 2023 Congress President, these misconceptions
create more barriers on why women do not consult their doctors. “There is an information gap associated
with endometriosis and women continue to suffer in silence brought about by debilitating pain,” she said.
“This affects their daily activities, their productivity suffers at work and school– diminishing their quality of
life.”

Importance of Early Diagnosis

“Endometriosis sometimes takes several years to be diagnosed, but with the Asia Consensus guidelines,
it allows us to help HCPs tackle endometriosis by improving diagnosis and treatment standards of the
condition in Asia, enabling them to create the best outcomes for their patients,” said Dr. Catherine
Donovan, Head of Medical Affairs Asia-Pacific, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Asia-Pacific.

During the Asian Congress on Endometriosis 2023, Dr. Catherine Donovan, Head of Medical Affairs Asia-Pacific, Bayer
Pharmaceuticals Asia-Pacific, emphasized that HCPs should initiate conversations of care among their patients for early detection

of endometriosis.

The consensus guideline “Clinical Diagnosis and Early Medical Management for Endometriosis:
Consensus for Asia” details the recommended practices for caring for women with endometriosis. It
emphasizes the role of non-invasive procedures in early diagnosis and treatment to allow for patient-
centered care.

In an endometriosis masterclass held at the Marriott Manila Hotel, Bayer emphasized the importance of
creating safe spaces for conversations on endometriosis to provide a multidimensional approach on
patient care.

Seek medical help

Women should realize that pelvic pain accompanying periods are not normal. They should seek help to
evaluate the cause of this pain. According to Dr. Aguilar, patients may undergo pelvic examination and
imaging as appropriate. Pelvic pain may be due to endometriosis and experts in the field can discern if
this is present.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition, but there are ways of managing the pain and preserving the
woman’s fertility as long as it is discovered early and handled competently. “Many patients respond well
to medication and go back to their lifestyle with little to no pain”, she added.

Working with multi sectoral partners and joining in the ACE 2023 in the Philippines is part of Bayer’s core
commitment in advancing innovative solutions for women’s healthcare. With its recently launched Bayer
For Her: Conversations of Care campaign, Bayer aims to raise awareness on women’s health by
normalizing discussions on what is considered taboo topics in the country such as menstrual issues and
endometriosis.

To help more women make informed choices about their own bodies and seek expert advice on
reproductive health, Bayer For Her has an ongoing series of free pop-up consultation clinics at selected
Mercury Drug, Southstar Drug, Rose Pharmacy, and Watsons until October 2023.
For more information about the free consultation clinics or signs and symptoms of endometriosis, visit
Bayer Philippines’ Ask Mara Facebook page.

References
World Health Organization. Endometriosis. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-
sheets/detail/endometriosis#:~:text=Endometriosis%20often%20causes%20severe%20pain,don’t%20have%20any%20symptoms.
Chih-Feng Yen. 2019. Epidemiologic Factors Associated with Endometriosis in East Asia. Available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6367920/

BioSpectrum. 2022. Bayer unveils guideline for diagnosis and early management for Endometriosis in Asia. Available at:
https://www.biospectrumasia.com/influencers/54/19789/bayer-unveils-guideline-for-diagnosis-and-early-management-for-
endometriosis-in-asia.html

About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services
are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and
aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its
businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The
Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2022, the Group employed around 101,000 people
and had sales of 50.7 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to
http://www.bayer.com.

About Endometriosis
According to the World Health Organization, endometriosis is a chronic disease associated with life-impacting pain during periods,
sexual intercourse, bowel movements, and/or urination. Other symptoms include fatigue, nausea, and anxiety.

Contact:
Nadira Abubakar
Phone +63 917 129 47 91
Email: nadira.abubakar@bayer.com
Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management.
Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future
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whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.