March 4, 2025
Endometriosis Awareness Month
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Our Head of Community, Larissa, shares some words and some of her lived-experience with endometriosis.
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Our Head of Community, Larissa, shares some words and some of her lived-experience with endometriosis.
“Periods are supposed to hurt.”
This is something I used to tell myself every month, as I walked around with a heatpack strapped to my back and stomach, popped pain-killers, and smiled through my pain.
“It’s just a few days a month!”
I told myself, as the days it affected me each month started to get longer and longer, pain taking up more of my month each and every month.
I remember starting to track my pain levels and my cycle, and the first time I did this, I was shocked. I had two pain free days over the last month. Maybe it was worth getting it checked out? So off to the doctor I went.
“24 year old female - presented with hysteria. Thinks she has endometriosis and wants referral to gynecologist. Told to take anti-inflammatories and panadol to manage pain.”
These are actual notes from the first doctor I saw about my period pain when I was trying to get a diagnosis for endometriosis. Did you know that on average, it takes someone 6-8 years to get diagnosed with endometriosis? Wild, isn’t it?! Surprising, no.
“Stage 2 endometrial lesions found in both sides of the pelvic wall. Lesions were also found in the bowel, bladder, and sacral ligaments.”
These were my notes post-surgery. I felt guilty that these notes felt like a relief - but my biggest concern throughout the entire process of getting diagnosed, seeing doctors and specialists, and arranging a surgery was for everyone to turn around afterwards and tell me that it was in fact all in my head. I now had proof and photos - evidence - of the pain I was living with every single day, and that filled me with relief, but also anger, sadness, and frustration that so many people out there may never get this kind of answer.
Unfortunately, my experience is far too common for people experiencing debilitating pain from endometriosis. We are told it’s normal, to get on with it. More recently, on Australian radio - a male presenter said that “it’s made up”, and that women “carry on” (He was later fired - so let’s cheers to that).
To my fellow endo sufferers, this endometriosis awareness month - and always - I want you to know this:
Your pain is real.
You are not faking it.
Endometriosis is one of the top 20 painful conditions in the world.
You deserve a diagnosis.
You deserve treatment.
You deserve to be heard.