How a federal petition and emerging evidence bring disability recognition into focus.
Authors: Victoria Jackman*, Samantha L. Levang*, Andrea Gallo Hoyos, & Caroline F. Pukall *joint first authorship
For many people with adenomyosis, a “normal” day can mean waking up already exhausted, scheduling work or school around pain flare-ups, and worrying about what will happen if they need more time off. Petition e-6929 attempts to address these realities.
Report e-6929: What it asks for
Petition e-6929 calls on the House of Commons (2026) to:
Recognize adenomyosis and endometriosis as conditions that qualify as disabilities when they substantially limit daily activities or work ability.
Increase dedicated funding for research
Create standardized, evidence-based clinical care pathways across all Canadian provinces
These requests are about aligning policy with the documented impact of these conditions on people’s lives, including adenomyosis and endometriosis. There is also one accompanying blog on endometriosis and petition e-7415, which highlights similar issues of disability, research and policy in Canada.
Adenomyosis is one of the conditions listed in petition e-6929, yet many Canadians may not be familiar with what it is, how it relates to endometriosis and why it matters in conversations about disability, access to health care and quality of life.
What is adenomyosis?
Adenomyosis is a chronic gynecological condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in the muscular wall of the uterus. It is a long-term condition that can cause uterine enlargement and can 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 gynecological conditions, which can make diagnosis and treatment even more complicated.
Adenomyosis and endometriosis are separate conditions, but they share important similarities. Both involve endometrial-like tissue growing where it shouldn’t, and both are associated with estrogen dependence, progesterone resistance, and chronic inflammation (Bulun et al., 2023). The two conditions also often occur together. Research shows 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 diagnostic criteria (Moldassarina, 2023). This means people can 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 in up to 80 percent of patients (Krentel et al., 2017; Li et al., 2018). However, like endometriosis, adenomyosis can affect much more than the menstrual cycle. Symptoms can affect work, education, caring responsibilities, social activities and daily tasks. People may have to change shifts, miss classes, cancel plans, or avoid long trips because of pain, bleeding, or fear of leaks. These effects may 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 significantly greater loss of work productivity than people without the condition (Alcalde et al., 2021; Li et al., 2022).
Stigma and mistrust make it worse. symptoms such as heavy bleeding and severe menstrual pain often normalize, and many people report that their symptoms are “just bad periods” or due to stress. Diagnostic delays, lack of access to imaging, and limited awareness among clinicians contribute to prolonged suffering.
In practice, this means that adenomyosis can substantially limit what people can do every day, in ways that match how disability is defined in law and policy.
What can you do
Identifying adenomyosis as potentially disabling is not about labels. it’s about making sure people who are already losing sleep, income and opportunity don’t also lose their right to support.
Petition e-6929 comes at a critical time, pushing for disability recognition and care that reflects how these conditions truly affect people’s lives.
Petition e-6929 closes on July 8, 2026, at 4:40 p.m. (EDT), so signatures are time sensitive.
To learn more about how endometriosis is addressed through the e-7415 report and the SIGHT Study, see our companion blog on endometriosis and disability in Canada.
Sign the e-6929 report: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Sign/e-6929
References
Alcalde, AM, 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, SE, Yildiz, S., Adli, M., Chakravarti, D., Parker, JB, Milad, M., Yang, L., Chaudhari, A., Tsai, S., Wei, JJ, & Yin, P. (2023). Endometriosis and adenomyosis: common pathophysiology. Fertility and Sterility, 119(5), 746–750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.03.006
House of Commons of Canada. (2026). Reference e-6929 – Disability (Endometriosis and adenomyosis). Our Commons. Retrieved from https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6929
Kho, KA, Gingold, JA, & Shin, JH (2026). Adenomyosis Pathophysiology, Diagnostic Advances and Therapeutic Options. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10.1097/AOG.0000000000006276. Advance electronic publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000006276
Krentel, H., Cezar, C., Becker, S., Di Spiezio Sardo, A., Tanos, V., Wallwiener, M., & De Wilde, RL (2017). From clinical symptoms to MR imaging: Diagnostic steps in adenomyosis. BioMed Research International, 20171514029. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1514029
Li, JJ, Chung, JPW, Wang, S., Li, TC, & Duan, H. (2018). The investigation and management of adenomyosis in women who wish to improve or preserve fertility. BioMed Research International, 20186832685. 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 compared with those with uterine leiomyoma. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(9), 2638. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11092638
Moldassarina RS (2023). Contemporary view on the diagnosis 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, CM, & Sadowski, EA (2022). Adenomyosis: Diagnosis and treatment. American Family Physician, 105(1), 33–38.
