Endometriosis affects one in ten people assigned female at birth, yet diagnosis takes an average of nine years and four months. The condition involves tissue similar to the uterine lining growing on other areas of the body, causing inflammation, scarring and severe chronic pain. A new BAFTA-winning documentary, This is Endometriosis, by Georgie Wileman, highlights the reality of living with the condition.
Research involving over one million women shows that childhood adversity increases the risk of endometriosis after menstruation begins, due to prolonged low-grade inflammation. Trauma can worsen symptoms and potentially trigger onset. Women report nights spent in severe pain, rectal bleeding leading to anaemia, extreme bloating, and chronic pain that can leave them wheelchair-bound.
Medical trauma is a common experience among women with endometriosis. Many report being told by GPs that their pain is imagined, undergoing invasive procedures without proper consent, or waiting years for referrals. Dr Farideh Banafshei, a counselling psychologist, explains that trauma is a dysregulated nervous system trying to protect itself, and two people can have the same experience with different outcomes.
The condition also affects relationships and mental health, with painful intercourse, low libido, and potential infertility often leading to shame and isolation. Despite sophisticated medical pathways, endometriosis remains frequently mismanaged and misunderstood. Experts urge women to recognise symptoms early and advocate for themselves in medical settings to reduce delays and trauma.
