Endometriosis: Pain, periods, medical gaslighting

Around one million Australian women live with endometriosis. That's around one in seven, so chances are you know someone dealing with debilitating pain, medical misogyny and fertility issues because of the disease.

Awareness about endometriosis has expanded in the last few years, but there's still a long way to go. Yumi Stynes meets women who've spent a lot of time and money seeking a diagnosis and fighting to be heard.

She also sits down with Professor Caroline Ford from the Ainsworth Endometriosis Research Institute at UNSW who offers hope for a future with tailored treatments and less BS.

Helpful links:

Endometriosis Foundation  (these folks run support groups)

National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific trials registry

Endometriosis Australia

Pelvic Pain foundation

Endo Zone

What to listen to next:

The rage in my pelvis

When sex hurts

Perimenopause: WTF is happening to our bodies

Free to bleed: escaping menstrual shame

Shedding the shame of herpes

The new way to date

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

What to read next:

Shame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk about

What happens to your sex life during perimenopause?

How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood

This episode will answer questions like:

• What is endometriosis?
• How can you tell if you have endometriosis?
• Is it normal to have painful periods?
• What are the treatment options for endometriosis?
• Does endometriosis affect your fertility?
• Does endometriosis affect your sex life?

This episode contains references to endometriosis, gynaecology, period pain, chronic pain, painful sex, medical, gaslighting, medical misogyny, cancer, fertility, infertility, IVF, uterus, lesions, laparoscopy, endo, endometrial tissue, chronic pelvic pain, adenomyosis, dysmenorrhea, chocolate cysts, blood, National Action Plan for Endometriosis.