Emma got her first period at age 11 while gardening with her mum. When she went to the bathroom, she was surprised to see what she later described as a “little red monster.” From the very beginning, she experienced significant pain and soreness with her periods. “I was told it was ‘normal’, so I pushed through with Panadol and heat packs, believing that’s just how it was supposed to be. By age 13, it became clear to Emma that something was seriously wrong. “The pain was so intense that it brought me to tears,” says Emma.
“Thankfully, I found an incredible gynaecologist, who truly listened. He put me on a treatment plan, but despite all efforts, the pain persisted. At 15, I underwent a laparoscopy surgery and was officially diagnosed with stage 3 endometriosis. While the diagnosis was overwhelming, it was also a relief that I finally had answers.”
In late 2025, Emma began experiencing severe back pain. At first, she and her family wondered if her endometriosis had returned, but when she spoke with her gynaecologist, she recalls being told the “pain was in my head” and that she should see a pain psychologist.
Further investigation later revealed that she had two slipped discs in her back, which initially seemed to explain what she was feeling. However, over time the pain became worse rather than better. Emma began experiencing leg weakness, numbness, and constant pain. She found herself in and out of hospital, seeing different doctors and undergoing multiple scans, yet still without clear answers.
“The doctors felt the discs weren’t severe enough to explain all my symptoms, which made the situation even more frustrating,” she said.
Looking back, Emma says what surprises her most is that during this time she never considered that endometriosis could be involved again.
“It never even crossed my mind that it could be endometriosis causing these problems, because I had been told it wasn’t,” she explained.
It was only after a practitioner she was seeing for C.O.N.T.A.C.T care suggested that the pain could still be connected to endometriosis, given how closely everything in the body is linked, that Emma began to question things again. Now, after everything she has already been through with her health, she is preparing to see a new gynaecologist and an orthopaedic surgeon to investigate whether endometriosis could be contributing to the pain she continues to experience.
Even though the journey has been difficult and at times overwhelming, Emma says it has also made her stronger.
“I’m nearly 17, and this experience has taught me to keep pushing for answers, to listen to my body, and to never give up on finding the help and support I need,” she said.
As she looks ahead to her university years, Emma is planning to study nursing, but her experiences have also made her consider another path.
“The question is, do I stay and become a paediatric nurse, or do I pursue a career in gynaecology and show the world my love for learning about this disease?” she said.
Held every March, Endometriosis Awareness Month is a global initiative that aims to raise the profile of endometriosis, a condition affecting an estimated 200 million people worldwide.
Our theme for this year is Your Story Shaping Our Future. Endometriosis is not just a health issue of today – it shapes education, work, whānau, fertility, wellbeing, and opportunity across a lifetime. Delayed diagnosis and limited access to care mean too many people face these impacts alone, for far too long.
When we listen to the stories of those with endometriosis, we learn more about the condition and raise awareness of its impacts. This works to benefit the futures of young people, their families, and future generations.
