March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and for me this topic is personal.
Before I ever supported women in clinic with hormonal health, gut issues, fertility and chronic symptoms, I was navigating my own journey with endometriosis.
Like many women, my symptoms didn’t appear overnight. They slowly built over time, often dismissed as “normal period pain” or something I just needed to push through.
But deep down I knew something wasn’t right and it was after the birth of my first baby I started to really advocate for myself and push further with investigations to finally receive a diagnosis after experiencing symptoms for well and truly over a decade.
Unfortunately, this experience is incredibly common for people with endometriosis.
Research shows that people often wait years before receiving a diagnosis, frequently being told that their symptoms are normal or unrelated.
Endometriosis is estimated to affect 1 in 7 people in Australia, yet there is still a huge lack of awareness around the condition.
Part of the problem is that there are many myths surrounding endometriosis that prevent people from getting the support and answers they deserve.
Let’s talk about some of them.
Myth #1: “Severe period pain is normal”
This is one of the most damaging myths when it comes to women’s health.
While mild cramping can be part of menstruation, pain that interferes with your daily life is not normal.
If your period pain causes you to:
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miss work or school
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rely on strong pain medication
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curl up in bed for days
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experience nausea, vomiting or fainting
…it’s a signal that something deeper may be happening.
Endometriosis is one possible reason.
Pain is your body’s way of communicating that something needs attention, and it deserves to be taken seriously.
Myth #2: “Endometriosis only causes painful periods”
Many people associate endometriosis solely with menstrual pain, but the symptoms can be much broader.
People with endometriosis may also experience:
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pelvic pain outside their cycle
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gut symptoms like bloating, constipation or diarrhoea
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painful ovulation
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fatigue
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pain during intercourse
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fertility challenges
Because these symptoms overlap with many other conditions, endometriosis can sometimes be misdiagnosed or overlooked.
Myth #3: “Pregnancy cures endometriosis”
This is another myth that still circulates and is simply not true.
While some women experience temporary symptom relief during pregnancy due to hormonal changes, pregnancy is not a cure for endometriosis.
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the whole body, and symptoms can return postpartum or later in life.
This was certainly my experience.
After the birth of my first child, I began noticing significant changes in my menstrual cycle around four months postpartum. My periods became much heavier, I was flooding pads, experiencing severe pain, and my cycle length had increased from five days pre-pregnancy to around seven days.
About a year later, I underwent my first laparoscopy with a specialist and was diagnosed with stage IV endometriosis. I was told that complete excision surgery had been performed.
But over the following months, my symptoms didn’t improve, they became worse.
Within six months of that surgery, my pain had escalated significantly and I was feeling increasingly desperate for answers, particularly as we were already another year into trying for our second baby.
Trusting my gut, I decided to seek a second opinion with a highly experienced endometriosis specialist, who agreed to investigate my symptoms and perform another laparoscopy. This was around two years after my first surgery.
Following that second surgery in 2024, it was confirmed that I still had stage IV endometriosis, and there were minimal signs that excision surgery had actually been performed during my first operation.
Learning this was incredibly confronting.
I felt gaslit, confused, relieved to finally have answers, and angry all at the same time.
But it also reinforced something I now strongly advocate for:
If something doesn’t feel right, seek another opinion.
Endometriosis is complex, and finding the right care and expertise can make a significant difference in your health journey.
Seeking that second opinion was one of the most important decisions I made for my health.
Why Awareness Matters
Endometriosis Awareness Month exists to start conversations that historically haven’t happened enough.
Too many women have been told that their pain is normal.
Too many have felt dismissed, unheard or confused about what is happening in their bodies.
And too many spend years searching for answers.
A Final Thought
If you’re experiencing symptoms that don’t feel right, trust your body.
You deserve to be listened to.
You deserve answers.
And you deserve support.
Endometriosis can be complex, but understanding your body and having the right care around you can make a significant difference.
If this blog resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who may need to hear this message too.
Because conversations around women’s health matter.
Katherine x