Endometriosis

[Anonymous]

I am a healthy, athletic, intelligent young woman about to graduate witha BS degree.**I sought an officer commission through AFROTC at my localcollege.**After completing my physical examination, I was told I was inperfect health and could continue in the program.**Months later, acivilian desk jockey would review my records again, and find my medicalhistory stated an earlier diagnosis of endometriosis.**I was diagnosedthree years earlier and treated by laser cauterization and have had norecurrence, however, the Air Force disqualifies all women diagnosed withthis condition, even if they have sought treatment.**My problem isn'twith the disqualification as much as it is with my attempts at seeking awaiver.**The Air Force does allow waivers for women who have beendiagnosed with endometriosis.**My problem is with the waiverrequirements: a woman must undergo a hysterectomy and doubleoophorectomy (removal of complete reproductive system) in order to beaccepted into the Air Force.**This is absolutely outrageous.**Myreproductive system is completely healthy and there is not a doctor inthis world that would perform such a useless and life-altering surgery,not to mention that I'd like to start a family some day.**Even if I hadthis terrible surgery to receive my commission, the Air Force fails tonote the life long affects of**such drastic measures, i.e., risk ofosteoporosis, risks of certain cancers, daily hormone replacementtherapy...**I would appreciate anyone's comments, feelings, or ideas formoving up the chain to make a change in this archaic policy.NOTE:**Private e-mails may be sent to the submitter through the webmaster



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webmaster@militarywoman.org

[formerafstaffsgt]

Right on. I'm totally with you on this. However, I have no idea how you might go about changing that.... well, you could write a congress person with your concern, see if that helps at all.

Do you know why the AF has this policy? It may likely be an out-dated policy, but maybe there are some risks involved with women who've ever had endometriosis, no matter the treatment, that they are trying to avoid by excluding them from service?? Again, it may just be a policy that does not reflect the more recent, better understanding of women's health and more advanced medical treatment.

[wildblueamn]

After I was accepted for OTS, I was diagnosed (as it turned out mistakenly) with cervical dysplais which is disqualifying. I attempted the Congress route and they wrote back, 'sorry but thats the rules' so dont bother with that route. I was required to submit (in order to get the clean bill of health) to several colposcopies (which are painful!) and get a 6mos clear set of tests which occurred b/c the last dr said the previous smears were inconclusive and the colposcopies were unnecessary. I've since been in for 4 yrs w/ normal returns.

While I'm not familiar w/ the afflictions and side effects of endo and/if it ever goes away, its only in the best interest of the military to not assume 'inperfect' military recruits. I know it sounds cold and sure, there are some waivers out there, but thats the way it goes.

Please dont disrespect the 'desk jockeys' no matter the color of their uniform. They're just doing their job and degrading them doesnt make it better.

Air Force Regulation 48-123 Sec A3.18.24 Current or history of endometriosis (617) is disqualifying.
http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/pubfiles/af/48/afi48-123v2/afi48-123v2.pdf

DodMERB D171.30 Endometriosis, history of History of endometriosis
(TRICARE)

[LT MAC]

These civilian reviewers can be wrong...unless you have seen the Air Force regulation providing for disqualification for historical endometriosis for your self, I would not give up.

I had was able to get historical endometriosis waivered by the Army in November 2005 on a direct commission. My situation was Class III pelvic endometriosis in 1998, treated by laproscopic laser ablation followed with 6 months of Depot Lupron. I subsequently had a child in 2000, and have not had recurrence since.

The initial civilian review of my medical file resulted in permanent disqualification due to the endometriosis AND a pylorotomy. First of all, the pylorotomy is not even a disqualifier. (It is the only non-disqualifying abdominal "surgery", but the civilian didn't know the regs well enough to know that.

I had to find the regulation myself, and put it in front of my recruiter in order for him to pursue getting the permanent DQ revoked so I could physical at MEPS. (Recruiters will many times accept the word of the civilian review without questioning it, so you may have to do the work to prove your case yourself.)

When the recruiter did contest the permanent DQ, the Chief Medical Officer approved sending my to MEPS based on the fact that the endometriosis was historical and the pylorotomy was not a disqualifier anyway. Then it was up to the MEPS physician to determine what happened from there. Based on a combination of the medical records and the standard physical exam (I guess he was primarily looking for any signs of pain when he pressed on my abdomen), he said there was no reason to believe that I had any more chance of problems with endometriosis than anyone else, and recommended waiver.

So, they did waiver it and I'm in, but it took me 2 years to get it done because the board awarding direct commissions for my AOC meets only once a year. There was a lot of frustration, and feeling like people should know their jobs better than they did, but ultimately if you want it you need to just press on and challenge the initial rulings that you are given.

Good Luck!!!

[wildblueamn]

***There was a lot of frustration, and feeling like people should know their jobs better than they did, but ultimately if you want it you need to just press on and challenge the initial rulings that you are given. ***

First, you were an officer recruit (more so direct commission) which I assume also placed your issue ahead of a general recruit (if that is what this poster is)

Second, I wouldnt necessarily start off a military career by challenging everything that is given you b/c thats not the way to proceed w/ a military career once earned stripes/bars. At some point, there is a loss of diminishing returns and you have to ask yourself if its worth it and who is willing to go to bat for you.

Third, assuming people dont know their jobs when its their job every day, is not a fair perspective. They do know it better than most and 99% of people dont have the knowledge or empowerment to review regulations and learn-not to be superior- but do so fairly and with regard to chain of command.

If poster can find something to suppor their case, good to go, but Congressional routes and 'lawsuiting' just wont get one anywhere.