Endometriosis is a common disease where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it in other parts of the body. March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness of this disease that affects more than 830,000 (more than 11%) of Australian women, girls, and people assigned female at birth, who may suffer from endometriosis at some point in their life with the disease often starting in teenagers.

But symptoms are variable and this may contribute to the 6.5 year delay in diagnosis. Common symptoms include pelvic pain that puts life on hold around or during a person’s period. It can impact fertility for some but not for all.

Find out more about endometriosis by visiting Endometriosis Australia.