Reclaiming Women’s Health: The Endometriosis Crisis

Endometriosis affects one in ten women of reproductive age worldwide, yet its diagnosis and treatment remain undermined and overlooked. For millions of women, myself included, this chronic and often debilitating condition is so much more more than “just bad period cramps”—it’s an extreme battle with physical and emotional distress, along with systemic medical disregard. This condition is often misdiagnosed or ignored, with patients waiting an average of seven to ten years for a proper diagnosis. This gap in care is not a coincidence; it is an example of how gender bias affects healthcare, which leaves women to suffer in silence. In this post, I’ll explore how the medical system fails endometriosis patients, the societal norms that perpetuate this neglect, and the urgent need for systemic change to prioritize women’s health.

First off, what is endometriosis? According to the Mayo Clinic, “Endometriosis is an often-painful condition in which tissue that is similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It often affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis” (Mayo Clinic). This condition can cause extreme pain, fatigue, and fertility issues. For me, the pain is so intense that I am often unable to walk, and sometimes leads to vomiting. During these episodes, I’m completely incapacitated, making it impossible for me to attend class or participate in any events. It often leaves me questioning my future—how will I manage this while holding a full-time job? What if I’m unable to have children? How do I navigate such extreme pain while still balancing life events that I simply cannot miss? This is why I’m so passionate about this issue for women—because I’ve experienced firsthand the feeling of helplessness, with no solution in sight to alleviate the pain. And no, Advil does not come close to even touching the pain.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endometriosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354656

Despite how widespread endometriosis is, there is a significant gap in the healthcare system when it comes to research, funding, and effective treatment options. Endometriosis doesn’t just affect one in ten women; it impacts their daily lives, their careers, and their futures. Yet, there is no cure, and the solutions that doctors often recommend are limited at best. Birth control is typically the first line of defense offered by healthcare providers, but it is by no means a one-size-fits-all solution, and for many, it only masks the symptoms instead of addressing the underlying condition. According to the National Institutes of Health, women’s health issues, including endometriosis, receive significantly less research funding than other conditions. This lack of funding results in limited understanding of the condition, fewer treatment options, and insufficient support for those affected by it. At the same time, women have to deal with a healthcare system that often overlooks their pain and is slow to invest in solutions that could actually make a difference.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1242205/endometriosis-research-funding-united-states/

The lack of attention to endometriosis and other women’s health issues really shows how much needs to change in healthcare. For too long, women’s health has been pushed aside, and that needs to stop. We need policies that prioritize research into endometriosis, not just to find new treatments but to actually understand what’s going on in the body. Doctors also need better training to spot the signs of endometriosis early, so women don’t have to spend years getting the wrong diagnoses and treatments. On top of that, it’s time for lawmakers and health organizations to recognize the real costs of endometriosis—not just in healthcare bills, but in the toll it takes on women’s careers and lives, including mine and the lives of one in every ten women you know.