Endometriosis Awareness Month: March
Endometriosis Awareness Month happens every March, and 2026 is no different. This is a time to stop, pay attention, and talk openly about a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, yet still gets overlooked far too often.
In Australia, endometriosis touches roughly one in seven people assigned female at birth. That is a significant number. Yet despite how common it is, many people wait years before receiving a proper diagnosis. Some never receive one at all.
March is the month where communities, healthcare advocates, and everyday Australians come together to change that. The focus is on shining a light on the lived experience of those with endometriosis and making sure more people know what to look for.
Key Takeaways
- Endometriosis affects roughly 1 in 7 Australians assigned female at birth, yet diagnosis takes an average of 6–8 years due to symptom overlap with other conditions and the normalisation of period pain.
- Symptoms go beyond painful periods and include chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, bloating, pain during sex, and digestive issues, many of which are frequently dismissed or misattributed.
- March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, marked by yellow ribbons and global campaigns to reduce stigma, improve diagnosis rates, and support those living with the condition.
- Australians can help by wearing yellow, sharing accurate information, supporting organisations like Endometriosis Australia, and simply talking openly about symptoms to encourage earlier help-seeking.
What Is Endometriosis Awareness Month?
Endometriosis Awareness Month is an internationally recognised campaign held every March. It was established to raise public understanding of endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, in places it does not belong.
The campaign brings together patient advocates, healthcare professionals, researchers, and ordinary people who want to make a difference. From local events to global social media campaigns, March is filled with activity aimed at reducing stigma, improving diagnosis rates, and supporting those who live with the condition.
Why March Is Dedicated to Endometriosis Awareness
March did not become this campaign’s home by accident. The World Endometriosis Society and the Endometriosis Association designated it to align global efforts around a single powerful month. Over the decades, governments and healthcare organisations have added to it, creating events, educational drives, and policy discussions that span the full 31 days.
Yellow is the signature colour. Yellow ribbons, yellow clothing, and yellow-themed social media posts fill March as a visible, unified symbol that people can wear and share to spark conversations.
Why This Awareness Month Matters in Australia
Australia has a strong history of endometriosis advocacy, but there is still significant ground to cover. Diagnosis times here remain among the longest in the developed world, and many Australians spend years being told their pain is normal before anyone looks deeper.
This month matters because it challenges that pattern. It encourages GPs to ask better questions, empowers patients to speak up, and helps families understand what their loved ones are actually going through. Awareness is not just a hashtag. It leads to real change in how this condition is understood and managed at every level.
Understanding Endometriosis
Endometriosis is more complex than many people realise. Understanding what is actually happening in the body, and why it so often goes unrecognised, is a good starting point for anyone wanting to learn more.
What Happens in the Body with Endometriosis
In a typical menstrual cycle, the uterine lining thickens, then sheds if pregnancy does not occur. With endometriosis, tissue that behaves like that lining grows in places it should not. Here is what that process involves:
- Tissue grows on or around the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic lining, and in some cases further afield
- That tissue responds to hormonal changes the same way uterine lining does, thickening and bleeding with each cycle
- Because it has nowhere to go, the blood and tissue become trapped, causing inflammation
- Over time, this leads to scarring and adhesions, bands of fibrous tissue that can cause organs to stick together
- The cumulative effect can impact fertility, bowel and bladder function, and overall quality of life
What Happens in the Body with Endometriosis
One of the most frustrating aspects of endometriosis is how easy it is to miss. The symptoms mimic other conditions, and painful periods are frequently dismissed as just part of the experience, both by individuals and sometimes by healthcare providers.
Many people have grown up being told that severe cramping is normal. So they do not question it. They manage, they push through, and the condition progresses quietly in the background. A definitive diagnosis also requires laparoscopy, a surgical procedure, which means confirmation takes more time and resources than most other conditions.
Common Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
Endometriosis does not present the same way for everyone. Some people have severe symptoms from early on, while others notice only subtle signs for years. Knowing the range of what to look for matters.
Pain Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored
Pain is the most commonly reported symptom, but it takes different forms. These are the ones worth paying attention to:
- Severe period cramping that does not respond well to standard over-the-counter pain relief
- Deep, aching pelvic pain that persists throughout the month, not just during menstruation
- Pain during or after sex, which often goes unmentioned due to embarrassment or not connecting it to a medical issue
- Pain with bowel movements or urination, especially around the time of a period
- Pain that is severe enough to affect attendance at work, school, or daily activities
Period Changes That May Be Linked to Endometriosis
Period patterns can also signal that something is worth investigating further:
- Heavy bleeding that means soaking through pads or tampons quickly, passing large clots, or bleeding for longer than usual
- Spotting between periods
- Periods that are unpredictable or have changed noticeably over time
Worth noting is that some people with endometriosis experience minimal or no period pain at all. That is why it is important not to rule out the condition based on pain levels alone.
Other Symptoms That Are Often Missed
Endometriosis does not limit itself to reproductive symptoms. These are frequently overlooked:
- Fatigue, not ordinary tiredness but a bone-deep exhaustion that does not improve with rest
- Significant bloating around period time, sometimes called endo belly, where the abdomen visibly distends
- Nausea, particularly around menstruation
- Digestive issues that are often attributed to IBS or diet
- Shoulder pain in cases where endometrial tissue affects the diaphragm
Because these symptoms are so easily attributed to other causes, they contribute to the long gap between onset and diagnosis.
How Common Is Endometriosis in Australia?
The numbers around endometriosis in Australia tell a clear story. This is not a rare condition. It is widespread, costly, and still not receiving the level of public attention it warrants.
How Many Australians Are Affected
Around one in seven Australian women are affected by endometriosis by age 44 to 49, according to research from the University of Queensland published in January 2025. Endometriosis Australia estimates that over one million Australians are living with endometriosis.
Younger Australians are being diagnosed earlier too. Among women born between 1989 and 1995, 9.2% had been diagnosed by age 31, compared with 6.9% among women born in 1973 to 1978 at the same age. This likely reflects growing awareness and improved recognition among both patients and healthcare providers.
The financial burden is also significant. An estimated $293 million was spent on endometriosis in the Australian health system in 2022 to 2023, more than double the $142 million recorded in 2013 to 2014. In that same year, there cwere 44,200 endometriosis-related hospitalisations, representing 335 per 100,000 females.
The Australian Government has committed around $127 million for endometriosis initiatives since the release of the National Action Plan for Endometriosis in 2018, including $37 million for 33 Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics across the country.
Why Diagnosis Often Takes Years
Despite these numbers, the path to diagnosis remains slow. Several factors pile on top of each other to create this delay:
- Endometriosis symptoms overlap with conditions like IBS, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ovarian cysts, making it easy to misattribute
- Standard ultrasounds do not always detect it, and a definitive diagnosis requires laparoscopic surgery
- Period pain has historically been minimised in healthcare settings, meaning many people are not taken seriously early on
- Limited awareness among both the public and some clinicians means the condition is not always considered
- People often manage symptoms privately for years before seeking further investigation
On average, diagnosis in Australia takes between six and eight years from the onset of symptoms.
Why Awareness Is So Important
Raising awareness is not just about putting a condition on people’s radar. It changes behaviour, improves outcomes, and shifts culture in ways that directly affect people’s lives.
Breaking the "You Do Not Look Sick" Myth
Endometriosis is invisible from the outside. Most people with the condition look perfectly healthy, which creates a painful disconnect between what someone is experiencing internally and what others can observe.
The “you do not look sick” response is something many with endometriosis have heard from family, employers, and sometimes even healthcare providers. It undermines the reality of the condition and discourages people from speaking up or seeking further care.
Awareness campaigns push back against this. They help communities understand that chronic pain does not always have a visible face, and that dismissing someone’s experience because they appear well is not appropriate.
Helping People Recognise Symptoms Earlier
Earlier recognition leads to earlier care. Here is how awareness creates that change:
- People learn that severe period pain is not something to simply accept and endure
- Teenagers and young adults start tracking symptoms instead of normalising them
- GPs are prompted to consider endometriosis sooner when a patient describes pelvic pain
- Families and partners understand what their loved one is experiencing, leading to better support
- The overall gap between symptom onset and diagnosis begins to shrink
Education campaigns during Endometriosis Awareness Month reach people at a point when it can genuinely make a difference to their long-term health journey.
How Endometriosis Can Affect Daily Life
The impact of endometriosis stretches well beyond physical symptoms. For many Australians, it reshapes their entire day-to-day experience.
Impact on Work, Study, and Social Life
Missed days at work or school during flares are common. Events get cancelled. Career decisions get made around health uncertainty rather than ambition. Relationships can feel strained when one person is frequently in pain or exhausted without visible explanation.
Research has pointed to lost productivity and healthcare costs running into the billions annually in Australia. The personal cost is harder to quantify but shows up in every cancelled plan, every opportunity passed over, and every moment of social withdrawal that quietly accumulates over time.
Emotional and Mental Health Challenges
Living with chronic, often-misunderstood pain takes a real toll on mental health. Anxiety and depression are more prevalent among people with endometriosis compared to the general population. The uncertainty of symptoms, the frustration of delayed diagnosis, the grief that can accompany fertility challenges, and the experience of being dismissed by the healthcare system all contribute to this.
Physical and emotional well-being are closely connected. Supporting someone with endometriosis means acknowledging both dimensions, not just the physical ones.
What To Do If You Think You Have Endometriosis
If any of the symptoms described in this post feel familiar, taking action sooner rather than later is worthwhile. Here is where to start.
When to Speak with Your GP
The right time to speak with your GP is when symptoms are affecting your quality of life, even if you are not certain what is causing them. Some practical steps to take before and during that appointment:
- Keep a symptom diary, noting when pain occurs, how intense it is, and how it affects your ability to function
- Write down your menstrual pattern, including cycle length, flow, and any changes over time
- Note any pain during sex, bowel movements, or urination
- Be direct with your GP about how the symptoms are impacting your daily life
- Ask specifically whether endometriosis should be investigated
- If you feel dismissed, seeking a second opinion is entirely reasonable
Tests and Medical Support That May Help
There is no single blood test for endometriosis. The diagnostic process typically involves several steps:
- A thorough pelvic examination and detailed symptom history with your GP
- A pelvic ultrasound, which may identify endometriomas (cysts linked to endometriosis) but cannot rule the condition out if results appear normal
- A referral to a gynaecologist experienced in endometriosis for further assessment
- A laparoscopy, the only way to definitively confirm endometriosis, where a camera is used to look inside the abdomen
- Multidisciplinary care including pelvic floor physiotherapy, pain management specialists, and psychological support, which is increasingly recognised as the most effective long-term approach
How Australians Can Support Endometriosis Awareness Month
There are many ways to show up for this cause in March, from small personal gestures to more involved community participation.
Wearing Yellow and Sharing Awareness
Wearing yellow during March is a simple, visible act of solidarity. Sharing a photo on social media with #endometriosisawareness, tagging organisations doing the work, or simply posting something educational adds to the collective visibility of the campaign.
Sharing accurate content and correcting misinformation when you encounter it also contributes to a better-informed community. These small acts build up over time.
Supporting Local Endometriosis Organisations
Donating, volunteering, or attending fundraising events during March makes a direct difference. Endometriosis Australia and Jean Hailes for Women’s Health are two well-regarded organisations in this space, supporting advocacy, research, and access to care across the country.
Talking Openly About Symptoms and Health
Conversations between friends, within families, and in workplaces normalise the topic and reduce the stigma that keeps so many people from seeking help sooner. If you have endometriosis and feel comfortable sharing, your experience may help someone else recognise what they are going through.
Ways to Get Involved During Endometriosis Awareness Month
March is packed with opportunities to get involved, whether you prefer showing up in person or taking action online. Every bit of participation adds to the collective push for better awareness and earlier diagnosis across Australia.
Community Events and Awareness Campaigns
Educational seminars, support walks, social media campaigns, and fundraisers are held across Australia throughout March. Many are free and open to everyone. Checking with your local health network, hospital, or women’s health service is a good starting point. Endometriosis Australia regularly lists events by state on its website.
Online Support and Education Resources
Online communities have made it easier to access information and connect with others in similar situations. Forums, podcasts, webinars, and social media groups all offer spaces for connection and learning.
For holistic wellness resources and women’s health education, visit Branchout Wellness for information and support.
Final Thoughts
Endometriosis Awareness Month in March 2026 is an opportunity for Australians to push back against years of silence, normalised pain, and delayed diagnosis. Awareness changes real outcomes. It leads to earlier diagnoses, better care, and a culture where people are actually believed when they say something is wrong.
Whether you are personally affected, supporting someone who is, or learning about this for the first time, your involvement matters. Share what you have learned. Wear yellow. Ask better questions. Listen more.
The goal is a future where no one spends years wondering why they are in so much pain before someone takes it seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is yellow the colour for endometriosis awareness?
Yellow represents hope and optimism. It is the internationally recognised colour of the endometriosis awareness campaign and is used to create visible solidarity throughout March.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
How long has Endometriosis Awareness Month been recognised?
It has been recognised internationally since the early 1990s, championed by the World Endometriosis Society and global advocacy groups over several decades.
Can teenagers develop endometriosis?
Yes. Endometriosis can begin at the first menstrual period. Symptoms in teenagers are often attributed to growing pains or typical period discomfort, which contributes to delayed diagnosis in younger people.
How long does it usually take to get diagnosed?
In Australia, the average time to diagnosis is between six and eight years from the onset of symptoms, largely due to overlapping symptoms with other conditions and the normalisation of period pain.
Are there support groups for endometriosis in Australia?
Yes. Endometriosis Australia offers support resources nationally, and many local women’s health services run support groups. Online communities are also widely active and accessible.
Can lifestyle changes help manage symptoms?
Some people find that dietary adjustments, regular movement, stress management, and good sleep hygiene help manage certain symptoms. These complement medical treatment rather than replacing it. Consulting a healthcare professional before making significant changes is always advisable.
Is endometriosis a lifelong condition?
For many people, yes. Symptoms can change over time and may lessen after menopause for some. The experience varies widely, and with appropriate management, many people with endometriosis live full, active lives.
What should you track if you suspect endometriosis?
Track the timing, type, and intensity of pain, when it occurs relative to your menstrual cycle, any changes in period flow or regularity, and how symptoms affect your sleep, work, and mood. This information is valuable for any GP or specialist appointment.
