Additional Resources and Web Site Links

EndoCenter of the San Francisco Bay Area

Resolve Of Northern California:
Infertility: Education, Advocacy and Support
(415) 788-3002 (TAP Help Line)
(415) 788-6772 (Business Office)
National Headquarters: 1310 Broadway
Somerville, Massachusetts 02144-1731
(617) 623-1156, National Helpline: (888) 623-0744

Insurance Complaints:
Complaints against insurance carriers in CA
Claims Service Bureau
California Department of Insurance
300 South Spring Street - South Tower
Los Angeles, California 90013
1-800-927-HELP

Department of Labor:
415-975-4600
Questions about COBRA continuation coverage or about your employer's benefit plan.

Food and Drug Administration FDA:
To see if warnings have been issued about a product (medication or supplement), log on to www.fda.gov

U.S. Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA):
415-744-3600
Questions about HIPPA and individual coverage.

Clinical Trials:

The ERC is pleased to announce recruitment for the following Endometriosis Clinical Trials – some require visits and others are questionnaire driven: Click on the link below to learn more

http://www.endocenter.org/clinicaltrials.htm

A Medical Research Study for Women with Endometriosis:

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus - the endometrium - is found elsewhere in the body. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and many women with the condition are often misdiagnosed or aren't diagnosed with any condition at all. This makes it difficult to determine the actual number of endometriosis cases. For those with symptoms, the most common is pelvic pain - pain during intercourse, painful periods, and painful bowel movements. A woman may also suffer pain in the abdomen and lower back.

Right now, research is underway to determine if an investigational medication is safe and effective for the management of pelvic pain associated with endometriosis. Each woman eligible for participation will receive the investigational study medication, study-related medical exams, and lab tests at no charge. Financial compensation for time and travel may also be available.

For more information about participating in this study, visit http://www.PetalStudy.com or call 1-866-PETAL-01 (1-866-738-2501).

Nationwide Lupron® Class Action Settlement:

People who paid for Lupron® - used to treat prostate cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and precocious puberty-could get a payment from a class action settlement.

A nationwide class action settlement includes people and entities (together called "class members") who paid for Lupron® from January 1, 1985 through December 31, 2004, and who qualify under the settlement. Lupron® is an injectible drug used to treat prostate cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and precocious puberty. If you're included, you may ask for a payment, or exclude yourself from, or object to, the settlement. The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts will have a hearing to decide whether to approve the settlement so that payments can be issued.

This is not about the safety or effectiveness of Lupron®.

More information is available at the official Court website www.lupronclaims.com or by calling toll-free 1-866-410-7650.

STANFORD MIND-BODY MEDICINE FERTILITY SUPPORT PROGRAM - Ongoing:

For more information and to register: http://womenshealth.stanford.edu/

Research has shown a significant correlation for some women between well-being and fertility. For instance, a recent study demonstrated that women who were particularly distressed by certain aspects of their infertility experience had up to a 30% reduced chance of successful in-vitro fertilization. (Fertility Sterility 81:982-8, 2004)

To help address these issues, we are very lucky to have an exciting new program available for the first time in the bay area. Modeled on successful research from Dr. Alice Domar at the Mind-Body Medicine Institute, this comprehensive program provides a wealth of coping skills and emotional support.

Emotional Support for Fertility Patients Research studies have shown that the effects of stress can compromise one's fertility.

Designed and directed by Stanford's Penny Donnelly, RN, MFT, Stanford infertility patients can take action to reduce emotional stress by enrolling in this new comprehensive support program . . . comprised of group sessions; personnel counseling; emotional health assessments; and course workbooks and materials.

For more information and schedule click on the following link. http://womenshealth.stanford.edu/

Ease Into Surgery Workshop:

Presented by The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine
2nd and 4th Monday of each month, 6:00-8:30pm

This workshop will help reduce anxiety prior to surgery, and enjoy a more relaxed state of mind. It's lead by UCSF experts from anesthesia, pain management and integrative medicine.

In this workshop you will:

Learn about anesthesia options
Discuss various pain management strategies
Learn simple breathing and relaxation techniques for anxiety and pain management
Experience and learn guided imagery to help with healing outcome
Become familiar with your pre and post operative resources and support

Please register for this free workshop by calling the Osher Center at 415.353.7718.
The Osher Center is located at 1701 Divisadero St., Suite 150 (at Sutter)- across the street from UCSF Mt.Zion Hospital.

Help the ERC Raise Awareness Today - Take Action:

The ERC's Legislative Awareness Committee continues to work hard at establishing official Endometriosis Awareness Resolutions all over the United States. You can support these efforts by urging your Representatives to enact Endometriosis legislation in your own States and communities. The ERC has an official Legislative Awareness Campaign site accessible via the Congress.org website, enabling you to reach your local Legislators with just the click of your mouse. Participate today!

The Endometriosis Research Center (ERC) is delighted to announce that Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 160 was unanimously passed by the California State Senate on March 21, 2002. Introduced by Assemblyman George Runner (R-36th District) and Assemblywoman Patricia Bates (R-73rd District) and supported by 70 co-sponsors, ACR 160 officially proclaims the month of March as "Endometriosis Awareness Month."

If you have any questions about the ERC's various legislative awareness activities, please contact the Legislative Awareness Committee Manager, Mary, at ERC_Mary@yahoo.com.

Web Site Information and Resources:

El Camino Hospital:
Meeting information for the South Bay Support Group can also be accessed through the El Camino Hospital web site at www.elcaminohospital.org. Follow the links to the 'Resources and Events' page and choose 'Endometriosis' from the 'View by Topic' menu.

Health Libraries:
There are many Health Libraries in the San Francisco Bay Area for the public to use to gain a better understanding about any illness. The following link gives information about the respective libraries in the area. http://www.planetreesanjose.org/BAlibraries.htm. Please let us know if you find this information useful or if you have any comments.

Internet Health Resources:
For information on local Infertility Clinics and Programs see www.ihr.com.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association:
For information on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome see www.pcosupport.org.

HealthScope:
For information on selecting a Health Plan see www.healthscope.org.
Guidance on how to compare health plans based on cost, coverage and quality as well as information on how prescription plan formularies work.

Department of Managed Health Care
California HMO Help Center:
980 Ninth Street, Suite 500
Sacramento, CA 95814-2725
(888) HMO -2219
www.hmohelp.ca.gov
Contact information for HMO's in California. Filing a complaint against HMO's in California.

Independent Medical Review:
Program that allows you to request that the Department obtain an impartial review of HMO decisions concerning the medical necessity of a proposed treatment; or experimental or investigational therapies for certain medical conditions; or denied claims for out of plan emergency or urgent medical services.

ERC Resource List:
The Endometriosis Research Center offers a 13 page, detailed list of resources for those living with Endometriosis as well as for those affected by the disease. The ERC Resource list includes information about treatment centers, support groups online, online chat rooms, personal and professional websites, fertility references, recommended reading, drug references, research and studies, medical health sites, surgical references, professional societies and associations, patient advocacy and insurance, hysterectomy and menopause references, pain control information, relaxation techniques, alternative therapy information centers and sites, disability resources, resources for dioxin and environmental issues, and a listing of where you can obtain alternative and safer sanitary supplies. The ERC Resource List is available through e-mail at no cost. Send an e-mail with the subject header "ERC Resources List" to Jennifer at EndoFL8@aol.com. Please include your full name, address and phone. Or the list can be obtained through postal mail for a small donation of $2.00 to the ERC to cover postage and handling. Exceptions can be made for hardships. To obtain your copy of the List, please fill out and return the ERC Material Request Form, located at www.endocenter.org/request.htm or by visiting Donate.net, located at http://www.donate.net/ccn/splash.asp?dept_id=339.

The ERC also offers access to a moderated discussion group specifically designed for military dependents and personnel with endometriosis at http://groups.msn.com/EndometriosisandtheMilitary

For male partners of those with endo please be sure to check out MENDO at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mendomen

Young women 25 and under, be sure to check out ERC's Girl Talk Discussion group, located at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ERCGirlTalk

www.endo-resolved.com is a site which focuses on positive information and provides a beacon of hope for women whose lives are ultimately completely ruled by Endometriosis.

Women's Center for Mind Body Health:
Good information on the Mind Body connection, preparing for surgery emotionally and a comparison of audio tapes to be used at surgery. Many useful links for other mind body sites and books, tapes and research data and information. See www.womensmindbodyhealth.info.

Mind and Body 10 Week Fertility Program led by Janetti Marotta, PhD
This 10 week program developed by Dr. Alice Domar the leading expert in mind-body medicine for infertility, is designed to help you cope with infertility in a more positive way be regaining control of your life and optimizing lifestyle habits. This holistic approach can increast your chance of conceiving and contributes to your happiness and good heath for the rest of your life. For more information and to register, call 866-575-5334 or visit http://www.fpnc.com/mindbody.html

Interstitial Cystitis Network:
Has useful information about IC, including support group information on a local level: http://www.ic-network.com/ There are groups on the San Francisco Peninsula and also the North Bay: http://www.ic-network.com/activism/supportgroups.html#California

Nutrition and Endometriosis:
For information on Nutrition and Endometriosis, contact Karen Spencer Dees, Ph.D. Doctor of Holistic Nutrition (508) 477-5343 email: DrDees@comcast.net or Fax 508-477-5673. She is the author of "Eating Right for your Hormonal Health" a Manual for Endometriosis and Other Endocrine Disorders. She has authored many Nutritional Health Programs for Endometriosis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Infertility, Menopause, Perimenopause Early Menopause, Building Your Immune System, Building Your Digestive Tract, Food sensitivities, Yeast-Free programs and more.

Women's Health @ Stanford:
http://womenshealth.stanford.edu provides comprehensive health services for women across the lifespan through cutting-edge research, patient and provider education, high quality patient care, and influencing health policy. There are many useful links on their "Links & Resources" page accessible from their home page.

International Adhesion Society:
http://www.adhesions.org/index.htm provides information on surgical treatment and new products available to combat adhesion formation. The site is brimming with information on related conditions.

Toxic Links Coalition:
The Toxic Links Coalition (TLC) educates our communities about the links between environmental toxins and the decline in public health: http://toxiclinks.net/

For Those in Pain:
A Local Pain Management group offering Pain Management classes and support throughout the Peninsula and South Bay. Their mission is to serve the community by delivering professional no & low cost pain management services toward the end of helping people to alleviate the difficult sensations, suffering, and disability associated with their experience of pain. Second, we are here to inspire, lead, and motivate others to do the same.

Click on their link http://www.forthoseinpain.org/FTIP.html for more information about their program and class schedules.

Bay Area Pain Medical Associates:
http://www.bayareapainmedical.com/ The purpose of this website is to provide a place where patients and physicians can find information about the latest trends in the practice of pain medicine. This is a local San Francisco Bay Area Resource located in Mill Valley, California.

Environmental Information:
BodyBurden Polution in People: http://www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden/. This website reports results from the most comprehensive study ever conducted of multiple chemical contaminants in humans. Interesting information worth reading. This report is part of the Environmental Working Group website http://www.ewg.org.

Environmental News:
TOXIC RELEASES BY INDUSTRY DROP, BUT AIR POLLUTION INCREASES CANCER RISK, TWO EPA REPORTS SAY, June 16, 2002
http://www.checnet.org/

Two reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have just been released. The first, the 2000 Toxic Release Inventory, shows that releases of toxic chemicals by companies have been declining. But, the second, the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment, reports that all Americans face a cancer risk that is 10 times higher than the EPA standard of 1 in a million. For 20 million Americans, the risk is as much as 100 times the standard.

Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollutants. Early and longterm exposures to toxins increase the chances that a child will grow up to develop cancer, reproductive disorders, respiratory ailments and other health problems. And childhood diseases, such as cancers and asthma, have been rising over the past two decades.

You can find out about pollution in your neighborhood and use the information to protect your children. For links to these valuable resources, click on the link above.