Adenomyosis, Disability, and Policy: Why Petition e-6929 Matters in Canada
/How a federal petition and emerging evidence are bringing disability recognition into focus.
Authors: Victoria Jackman*, Samantha L. Levang*, Andrea Gallo Hoyos, & Caroline F. Pukall *shared first-authorship
For many people with adenomyosis, a “normal” day can mean waking up already exhausted, planning work or school around pain flares, and worrying about what will happen if they need more time off. Petition e-6929 is trying to address these realities.
Petition e-6929: What it asks for
Petition e-6929 calls on the House of Commons (2026) to:
Recognize adenomyosis and endometriosis as conditions that can qualify as disabilities when they substantially limit daily activities or the ability to work.
Increase dedicated research funding
Create standardized, evidence-based clinical care pathways across provinces in Canada
These requests are about aligning policy with the documented impacts of these conditions on people’s lives, including both adenomyosis and endometriosis. There is also a companion blog on endometriosis and Petition e-7415, which highlights similar themes around disability, research, and policy in Canada.
Adenomyosis is one of the conditions named in Petition e-6929, yet many Canadians may be unfamiliar with what it is, how it relates to endometriosis, and why it matters in discussions about disability, health care access, and quality of life.
What is adenomyosis?
Adenomyosis is a chronic gynecological condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. It is a long-term condition that can cause the uterus to enlarge and may lead to heavy menstrual bleeding, severe menstrual pain, chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, and fertility challenges (Kho et al., 2026; Schrager et al., 2022). Although adenomyosis was once thought to primarily affect women over 40 who had given birth, advances in ultrasound and MRI have expanded recognition to younger individuals, including those seeking help for infertility (Kho et al., 2026; Schrager et al., 2022). Many people with adenomyosis also have endometriosis or other gynecologic conditions, which can make diagnosis and treatment even more complex.
Adenomyosis and endometriosis are distinct conditions, but they share important similarities. Both involve tissue similar to the uterine lining growing where it should not, and both are associated with estrogen dependence, progesterone resistance, and chronic inflammation (Bulun et al., 2023). The two conditions also frequently occur together. Research suggests that between 25 and 70 percent of people with endometriosis may also have adenomyosis (Schrager et al., 2022).
Despite this, adenomyosis remains under-recognized. Diagnosis often depends on access to specialized ultrasound or MRI, and there are still no universally agreed upon diagnostic criteria (Moldassarina, 2023). This means people may live with pain and bleeding for years without a clear diagnosis or adequate care.
How adenomyosis can be disabling
Heavy menstrual bleeding is the most common symptom of adenomyosis, affecting approximately 40 to 60 percent of those diagnosed, while painful periods are reported by up to 80 percent of patients (Krentel et al., 2017; Li et al., 2018). However, like endometriosis, adenomyosis can affect far more than the menstrual cycle. Symptoms may interfere with work, education, caregiving responsibilities, social activities, and everyday tasks. People may need to change shifts, miss classes, cancel plans, or avoid long commutes because of pain, bleeding, or fear of leaks. These impacts can fluctuate over time, making participation in daily life unpredictable for some individuals. Indeed, research shows that people with adenomyosis report significantly lower quality of life, higher rates of anxiety and depression, and substantially greater loss of work productivity than those without the condition (Alcalde et al., 2021; Li et al., 2022).
Stigma and disbelief make this worse; symptoms such as heavy bleeding and severe menstrual pain are often normalized, and many people report being told their symptoms are “just bad periods” or due to stress. Diagnostic delays, lack of access to imaging, and limited awareness among clinicians all contribute to prolonged suffering.
In practice, this means adenomyosis can substantially limit what people are able to do day to day, in ways that fit how disability is defined in law and policy.
What you can do
Recognizing adenomyosis as potentially disabling is not about labels; it is about making sure that people who are already losing sleep, income, and opportunities do not also lose their right to support.
Petition e-6929 is arriving at a crucial time, pushing toward disability recognition and care that reflect how these conditions actually affect people’s lives.
Petition e-6929 closes on July 8, 2026, at 4:40PM (EDT), so signatures are time-sensitive.
To learn more about how endometriosis is being addressed through Petition e-7415 and the VISIBLE Study, see our companion blog on endometriosis and disability in Canada.
Sign Petition e-6929: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Sign/e-6929
References
Alcalde, A. M., Martínez-Zamora, M. Á., Gracia, M., Ros, C., Rius, M., Nicolás, I., & Carmona, F. (2021). Impact of Adenomyosis on Women's Psychological Health and Work Productivity: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Women's Health, 30(11), 1653–1659. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2020.8789
Bulun, S. E., Yildiz, S., Adli, M., Chakravarti, D., Parker, J. B., Milad, M., Yang, L., Chaudhari, A., Tsai, S., Wei, J. J., & Yin, P. (2023). Endometriosis and adenomyosis: shared pathophysiology. Fertility and Sterility, 119(5), 746–750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.03.006
House of Commons of Canada. (2026). Petition e‑6929 – Disability (Endometriosis and adenomyosis). Our Commons. Retrieved from https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6929
Kho, K. A., Gingold, J. A., & Shin, J. H. (2026). Adenomyosis Pathophysiology, Diagnostic Advances, and Therapeutic Options. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10.1097/AOG.0000000000006276. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000006276
Krentel, H., Cezar, C., Becker, S., Di Spiezio Sardo, A., Tanos, V., Wallwiener, M., & De Wilde, R. L. (2017). From Clinical Symptoms to MR Imaging: Diagnostic Steps in Adenomyosis. BioMed Research International, 2017, 1514029. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1514029
Li, J. J., Chung, J. P. W., Wang, S., Li, T. C., & Duan, H. (2018). The Investigation and Management of Adenomyosis in Women Who Wish to Improve or Preserve Fertility. BioMed Research International, 2018, 6832685. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6832685
Li, N., Yuan, M., Li, Q., Ji, M., Jiao, X., & Wang, G. (2022). Higher Risk of Anxiety and Depression in Women with Adenomyosis as Compared with Those with Uterine Leiomyoma. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(9), 2638. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11092638
Moldassarina R. S. (2023). Modern view on the diagnostics and treatment of adenomyosis. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 308(1), 171–181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-023-06982-1
Schrager, S., Yogendran, L., Marquez, C. M., & Sadowski, E. A. (2022). Adenomyosis: Diagnosis and Management. American Family Physician, 105(1), 33–38. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2022/0100/p33.html