For many patients, endometriosis doesn’t just cause pain—it brings disbelief.
Severe cramps, chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, and even difficulty functioning in daily life are often dismissed as “normal period problems.” Patients are told to tolerate it, adjust to it, or simply push through it. This normalization of suffering creates a dangerous delay in diagnosis, sometimes lasting years.
Endometriosis is not rare. It’s a chronic inflammatory condition affecting nearly 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Yet stigma, lack of awareness, and the tendency to minimize women’s pain prevent timely recognition and treatment.
This isn’t just a gynecological issue—it’s a quality-of-life issue.
Listening to patients, validating their symptoms, and recognizing that persistent pain is never “just normal” is the first step toward better care.
Because awareness doesn’t just reduce stigma—it shortens suffering.
MBH/PS