·      What is Endometriosis?

·      YOL! film on Menstruation and Endometriosis

·      What are the effects of Endometriosis?

·      How to manage Endometriosis

·      Importance of being believed and dual diagnosis

·      How to support someone with Endometriosis

·      Endometriosis diagnosis toolkit

·      Websites that offer support and information

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic, often painful condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it—commonly on ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowels, and other pelvic tissue. While there is no cure, treatments include pain management, hormonal therapies, and surgery.

This film by the Menstrual Health Project illustrates what it is like to live with Endometriosis. 

What are the effects of Endometriosis?

Endometriosis can cause severe period pains but it’s not ‘just a painful period’. Many people have symptoms outside of their period, including long lasting pelvic pain.



Endometriosis can be lifelong and noticeable every day, effecting different parts of your day-to-day life, including:

·      Getting up in the morning

·      Walking to school

·      Paying attention in class (being too tired)

·      Being social

·      Eating and appetite (pains, nausea, vomiting)

·      Pain with other activities e.g. peeing, pooing or being intimate with a partner

·      Family life and relationships, effect on those close to you

How to manage Endometriosis

There is currently no cure for endometriosis and treatment is there to help manage the condition and your symptoms as best as possible. These include pain relief, surgery and hormone treatment. More information is available on the Endometriosis UK website.

Planning your days can be difficult as the pain can leave you unable to join in planned activities, the fatigue from living with endometriosis can leave you unable to participate and not knowing how you will feel the next day can make it hard to plan what to do with yourself. 

Importance of being believed and dual diagnosis

Endometriosis can take time and be hard to diagnose (recent data says the average time for diagnosis from first GP appointment is 9 years and 4 months). This means many people are struggling with symptoms and no formal diagnosis for a long time. If you are a friend, educator, parent or other responsible adult it is important to take young people seriously when they share experiences of pain, exhaustion, nausea and discomfort.

If you are diagnosed with endometriosis and are experiencing other issues in your life, it is important that you are getting support for that separately and it is not just assumed that ‘it is just your Endometriosis’. 

How to support someone with endometriosis

The Endometriosis Foundation offers information about the importance of taking time to learn about the condition, being a compassionate listener and respecting boundaries, along with tips for supporting someone. 

Endometriosis diagnosis toolkit

The Menstrual Health Project, in collaboration with BE YOU and two specialist Endometriosis surgeons have created a diagnosis toolkit which supports people who have been diagnosed and those who suspect they may have endometriosis. The toolkit is available here.

Websites that offer support and information