An estimated 500,000 women in Australia live with endometriosis; a condition which occurs when the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows in other parts of the pelvis and abdomen. Yet, due to a of lack of funding for research and a stigma surrounding ‘periods’, many women suffer in pain for far too long before they receive a diagnosis and get treatment. The new ‘Periods, Pain, Endometriosis Program’ that is being rolled out at 80 South Australian schools aims to address this stigma by raising awareness, speeding up diagnosis, and developing treatment options, and is now an important part of the Federal Government’s National Action Plan for Endometriosis that was announced earlier this year.

Co-Writer of the School’s Program, Gynaecologist, Pain Specialist, and Chair of the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, Dr Susan Evans joined us on The Daily to discuss the program further.