--- title: Non-Profits Join Forces on Chronic Conditions date: 2009-03-31T23:03:57-04:00 author: OBOS Admin canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/non-profits-join-forces-on-chronic-conditions" section: Blog (Archive) --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# Non-Profits Join Forces on Chronic Conditions By Rachel Walden • March 31, 2009 Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above. This week, we learned of the Overlapping Conditions Alliance, a group of nonprofit organizations "seeking to advance the scientific, medical and policy needs of individuals affected by medical conditions that frequently overlap." The conditions - chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), and vulvodynia - disproportionately or solely affect women. All are poorly understood, and many who suffer from these conditions are misdiagnosed and receive inappropriate treatment. While the OCA website does not yet have a lot of detail, the partnered organizations are: - - [Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Association of America](http://www.cfids.org) - [Endometriosis Association](http://www.endometriosisassn.org) - [Interstitial Cystitis Association](http://www.ichelp.org) - [International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders](http://www.iffgd.org) - [TMJ Association](http://www.tmj.org) - [National Vulvodynia Association](http://www.nva.org) The Overlapping Conditions Alliance will advocate for funding to research the common underlying mechanisms and risk factors for these conditions, so that preventive strategies and more effective treatments can be developed. --- #### 3 Responses Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments. **mrs spock** on Apr 01, 2009 Why is fibromyalgia not listed? As someone who has fibro, vulvodynia, IC, TMJ, and IBS, I have no doubt that they are all related in some way. Most of us with one of these conditions often have more than one as well. **Alexandra Carmichael** on Apr 01, 2009 Yes, I was very excited to learn of this alliance! These are all conditions that we see overlapping in our patient data communities at CureTogether - fibromyalgia, migraine, depression, acid reflux, and many others as well (charted here - http://tr.im/h8s8) I look forward to seeing what comes out of this alliance, and whether they will involve patients in the process as well as doctors and researchers. **Rachel** on Apr 01, 2009 Mrs Spock, I don't know the answer to that, but I have also read a bit about endometriosis and lupus occurring together, lupus being another not-entirely-understood condition. ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics - [Research & Studies](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/research-studies) - [Uncategorized](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/uncategorized) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** - We rigorously evaluate all content - We embrace a reproductive justice framework - We don’t accept ads or sell products - We reject funding from the pharmaceutical industry - We counter misinformation and disinformation - We address the social, political, and economic factors that affect health and sexuality [read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)