For Nicole Woodcock, the journey to an endometriosis diagnosis began at just 12 years old, when she first developed symptoms — before she had even started her periods.
“I wasn’t believed because I hadn’t started my periods yet,” Nicole says. When her periods began a year later, her symptoms became “awful”.
It took another six years before Nicole finally underwent surgery at 19 and received her diagnosis. Now 25, she has had a second surgery at 23, which confirmed her endometriosis had progressed to stage 3/4.
In total, Nicole spent seven years seeking answers — years she describes as incredibly frustrating and marked by repeated experiences of dismissal.
“I was told to take contraceptives and pop pain relief. Seven years of being dismissed in ED,” she says.
Despite having a confirmed family history of endometriosis and multiple hospital admissions with a range of symptoms, Nicole says it was not until the results from her first surgery came back that she felt she was truly taken seriously. Her GP continued to advocate for her and push for access to specialist care throughout the process.
Living with endometriosis has also had a significant impact on Nicole’s everyday life.“The chronic fatigue and chronic pain is insane,” she says. “Planning your social gatherings strategically so you aren’t too depleted after, thinking of ways to make your life as easy as possible to prevent potential flare ups and just living in a constant state of ‘this is my life’.”
This week, Nicole shared her lived experience with TVNZ, speaking about her diagnosis journey and what the updated national endometriosis guidelines could mean for others living with the condition.
Nicole welcomes the move towards earlier diagnosis and treatment, particularly for younger people who may otherwise face years of uncertainty before being offered invasive surgery.
“I like it—It allows people to get diagnosed quicker, especially those who are quite young for such an invasive surgery.”
She also believes earlier diagnosis could help reduce pressure on specialist waitlists and surgical services, helping ensure those who require surgery can access it when they need it.
Nicole’s experience highlights why earlier recognition, appropriate investigation and access to treatment matter. No one should have to spend seven years fighting to have debilitating symptoms taken seriously.
You can view Nicole’s appearance on TVNZ here and read Endometriosis New Zealand’s full response to the Guidelines Update here.