A third of NZ endometriosis patients told to get pregnant for symptom relief – new research
A third of endometriosis patients had been advised by a medical practitioner to become pregnant to relieve their symptoms, new research has found.
A third of endometriosis patients had been advised by a medical practitioner to become pregnant to relieve their symptoms, new research has found.
In England and Wales, new non-invastive tests for endometriosis are being rolled out. GPs will be able to recommend a saliva or gut electrical signal test as an initial diagnostic tool for endometriosis. Tanya Cooke, Chief Executive at Endometriosis New Zealand spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
A major shake-up in how the country’s largest health insurer approaches gynaecological care has practitioners and advocates worried about poorer outcomes for an already under pressure form of healthcare.
In a study involving 650 endometriosis patients, those who had no awareness of endometriosis when their symptoms began experienced a median diagnostic delay of 11 years, compared with nine years for those who knew about the condition.
New research from Endometriosis New Zealand and the University of Canterbury shows that almost half of endometriosis patients had never heard of the condition when their symptoms first began, contributing to significantly longer delays in diagnosis.
Endometriosis New Zealand is calling on political parties to commit to four practical policy priorities ahead of the 2026 General Election, including a National Endometriosis Action Plan for New Zealand and adoption of the new RANZCOG Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis.
Originally published by RANZCOG on Wednesday 13 May 2026 here. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and … Continued
“I remember my first period so clearly because of the pain. It was overwhelming, confusing, and scary, but I told myself it must be normal. Everyone talks about period pain like it’s something you just deal with, so I did. I stayed quiet and pushed through, not realising that what I was feeling wasn’t normal at all.”
We’re pleased to share the following opportunities for people in Aotearoa New Zealand to contribute to endometriosis-related research and programmes currently being undertaken by universities and other organisations.
New Zealand is falling behind in the treatment of endometriosis as Australia rolls out new clinics.
Too many people with endometriosis are still forced to choose between managing their health and protecting their career.
April is Adenomyosis Awareness Month, putting a spotlight on a common yet underappreciated and poorly understood condition that can have a major impact on people’s lives.