Claire experienced her first period when she was around 12 to 13. From the beginning, her periods were what she describes as “hot and heavy”, with pain that could be severe enough to send her home from school.
Endometriosis New Zealand has appointed leading gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon as the new Chair of its Clinical Advisory Committee.
At just 17, Arshia Jaiswal recently hosted her first market stall in Christchurch to raise awareness and funds for Endometriosis New Zealand.
Arshia was inspired to start her own fundraiser after noticing how little is understood about women’s health, particularly endometriosis.
Last month we welcomed the Government’s announcement that Health New Zealand will adapt the RANZCOG Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis for use in New Zealand. This was a significant milestone and something Endometriosis New Zealand had strongly advocated for.
For many people living with endometriosis, questions about fertility can bring uncertainty, fear, and an overwhelming amount of conflicting information. While not everyone with endometriosis will experience infertility, concerns about future fertility are common and can have a significant emotional impact.
“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”.
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.
“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.
As a major sponsor of this year’s 120 Challenge, Tap. Health is doing more than backing the campaign financially, they’re also creating a powerful way to bring people together and spark conversation about endometriosis.