Endometriosis Awareness Month: Why Awareness Isn’t Enough
Like every year, social media will flood with yellow ribbons, personal stories, and calls for awareness. Yet, for the 1 in 10 women with Endo, awareness has done little to change their daily reality
Awareness alone is not enough. We don’t need another month of performative support—we need action.
The Problem With "Awareness"
For decades, endometriosis has been misunderstood, dismissed, and under-researched. The fact that it takes an average of 7-10 years to get a diagnosis is proof that awareness campaigns haven’t moved the needle where it matters. For me it took almost twenty years to be taken seriously, by which time my insides were so severely fucked that I needed major surgery and now live with moderate to severe pain most days.
Most people now know endometriosis exists, but where’s the systemic change?
I won’t lie, I was deflated to hear Donna Ciccia, Founder of Endometriosis Australia talk on the podcast about how diagnosis time has decreased by a meagre six months in ten years.
How pathetic.
How insulting.
How devastating for those women and their loved ones.
Many doctors still believe Endo is just a “bad period.”
Many workplaces still don’t offer accommodations for those whose symptoms make full-time work impossible.
Treatment options remain outdated and largely ineffective, with birth control and hysterectomy still pushed as the main solutions.
And as far as alternative medicine goes - well that’s simply not an affordable option for many people.
We don’t just need people to know about endo—we need to fix the systems that keep us suffering.
What We Need Instead
1. Faster, More Accurate Diagnoses
Right now, the gold standard for diagnosis is laparoscopic surgery—an invasive procedure that requires recovery time.
We need non-invasive diagnostic tools that make early detection easier and more accessible like the simple blood test I discussed on the podcast with Dr. Peters from Proteomics International.
Medical professionals need better training to recognise symptoms beyond painful periods—endo can cause chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, bowel and bladder issues.
2. Research & Treatment Beyond Band-Aid Solutions
Endo is not just a reproductive disease. It’s a full-body inflammatory condition that affects multiple organ systems, yet research funding remains shockingly low compared to other conditions of similar prevalence.
We need disease-modifying treatments, not just symptom management. Current treatments like birth control, painkillers, and excision surgery don’t work for everyone. Some patients undergo multiple surgeries with little relief. What are we doing to improve the treatment of women with endo?
More investment in alternative and holistic treatments—including medical cannabis, physiotherapy, and dietary approaches could significantly improve quality of life.
3. Workplace & Healthcare Policy Changes
Endometriosis can be debilitating, yet many people struggle to access disability benefits, medical leave, or workplace accommodations.
Policies must reflect the severity of the disease. That means better insurance coverage, legal protections for those who need work flexibility, and formal recognition of endo as a disability where appropriate.
What Can We Do?
Support individuals and organisations that push for legislative change and medical research, not just awareness campaigns.
Demand better training for doctors and healthcare professionals so patients aren’t dismissed or misdiagnosed.
Share real, unfiltered stories. Media coverage often portrays endo as just “bad cramps,” but it’s a complex, systemic disease. The real stories—of lost careers, financial ruin, medical trauma—need to be heard.
Advocate year-round. Endo doesn’t just exist in March, and neither should the conversation about it.
Awareness is a starting point. But without action, without real change, it’s nothing more than a performative gesture.
It’s time to stop settling for awareness. It’s time to demand better.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced with endometriosis? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Let’s push this conversation forward, together.
Kel