Endometriosis is a complex and poorly understood condition despite it affecting at least 1 in 10 women, girls and those assigned female at birth in New Zealand. Many of these individuals are faced with overwhelming challenges.
Research into endometriosis is vital to develop new methods to diagnose and treat the condition to improve the lives of patients and reduce the impact of the disease.
Endometriosis New Zealand plans to launch a Research Fund in 2024 with the aim to progress vital endometriosis research in New Zealand. This fund is being developed to enhance our understanding of endometriosis and will be based on the priorities of endometriosis patients and their family/whānau and supporters. You can complete the survey through the link below.
This fund will be available to research teams associated with a New Zealand-based research institution. All projects will be assessed according to their clinical and scientific significance, validity of the scientific approach, feasibility of the study, research team’s track record, availability of expertise and facilities, appropriateness of the budget, impact of the project on endometriosis understanding and/or endometriosis patients, and Vision Mātauranga.
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Endometriosis New Zealand is partnering with a research team based at the University of Canterbury to gain insight into the perspectives of endometriosis patients, their friends, and whānau. This will be conducted through a survey that aims to identify what the priorities are for endometriosis research.
The findings of this study will be used in the development of the Endometriosis New Zealand Research Fund, due to be launched in 2024.
This research project is being conducted by the University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha and Endometriosis New Zealand. This study is being run by Katherine Ellis from the University of Canterbury, and Endometriosis New Zealand. Other research team members include Dr Rachael Wood from the University of Canterbury.
We would now like to invite all eligible participants to take part. Participants must be over 18, reside in Aotearoa New Zealand with either suspected or confirmed endometriosis, or be a support person for an endometriosis patient.
At the conclusion of the survey, participants can choose to go in a prize draw to win 1 of 5, $50 Grocery Vouchers, donated by Endometriosis New Zealand. Your entry in to this draw will not be associated with your survey answers, these will remain anonymous.
The survey should take no more than 5 minutes. Participation in the survey is considered consent to participate.
The link to the survey is here:
Endometriosis New Zealand would like to acknowledge the support from Endometriosis Australia to guide the structure of this fund. The Endometriosis New Zealand Research Priorities Survey questions are based on the 2023 Australian survey published in ANZJOG by Armour et al.
Researcher: Bonnie Fordyce, Victoria University of Wellington
Want to share your experience discussing, or wanting to discuss, with your general practitioner cannabis use to relieve symptoms of endometriosis? This research involves one confidential interview and aims to provide insight into how healthcare discussions about cannabis are experienced.
If you are interested in participating or want to know more about this research, please email bonnie.fordyce@vuw.ac.nz.
Researchers at the University of Canterbury
A research team based at the University of Canterbury are currently recruiting LGBTQIA+ participants for an anonymous online discussion focus group about the perspectives, experiences, and priorities of LGBTQIA+ endometriosis patients in Aotearoa New Zealand. This information will be used for doctoral research at the University of Canterbury.
Participants must be over 18, reside in Aotearoa New Zealand and have either a working diagnosis with their GP or OBGYN or a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis after surgery. Participants will receive a $20 online voucher as a thank you for their time and contribution to the study.
The discussion forum aims to put patient experiences at the centre of future research plans.
The online discussion focus group will run over five days and take about 120 minutes in total. Participants can break this time commitment down into as many smaller intervals as required, at times that suit them. If you decide to participate, you will answer a series of set questions and then see other participants’ responses. You will then have the option to read other perspectives, respond and engage with other participants.
Claire, a Master of Occupational Therapy student, looking for people to share their experiences in face-to-face or online confidential interviews. Her research aims to gain insight into the experience of endometriosis and employment, the challenges of sustaining employment, and what strategies are helpful to overcome these challenges. The results of this study may be able to assist others to manage their symptoms in the workplace and retain employment.
If you are interested to know more, please email Claire, quinc1@student.op.ac.nz.
Researchers: Dr Chloe Parton, Lecturer in Health Psychology at the School of Health, Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington and Dr Alexandra Hawkey, Research Fellow, Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University.
This project will explore how individuals with endometriosis experience motherhood and family relationships. This knowledge will enable health professionals and community organisations to better meet the needs of mothers with endometriosis and their families. However, the outcomes of the study may not directly benefit you.
The findings from the study will increase understanding about the impact of endometriosis on everyday life as a mother, as well as providing knowledge about the role of family relationships and other potential forms of support in mothers’ lives.
This survey is open to mothers who are:
• Aged 18 years or above
• Who have received a diagnosis of endometriosis
• Who are have a child aged 18 years or under (including non-biological children)
The survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Chief Investigator: Dr Leesa Van Niekerk, University of Tasmania
Professor Kimberley Norris, University of Tasmania, Associate Professor Subhadra Evans, and Professor Antonina Mikocka-Walus, Deakin University, Dr Mike Armour, Western Sydney University, Professor Jane Girling, University of Otago, Ms Kat Stanley, EndoHelp Foundation
Student Researcher: Ms Louise Gibson, University of Tasmania
This project is being conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Tasmania, Deakin University, Western Sydney University, University of Otago, and the EndoHelp Foundation. The research is coordinated by Dr Leesa Van Niekerk, a clinical psychologist and researcher in the School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania. The project focuses on the experience of heavy period bleeding or pelvic pain in adolescents and beliefs about period pain and heavy bleeding. The team would like to understand more about how heavy periods and pelvic pain experienced by adolescents influences the way they view themselves and their body. They would also like to understand the role primary caregivers (e.g., parents, foster parents, grandparents) have in shaping a young person’s beliefs about periods. Most research explores the views of either the young person or caregiver, but they are keen to understand whether these views are similar or different by having both people take part in the research.