MedConnect | Endometriosis: Behind the pain

More than 200 guests gathered at the Sydney Masonic Centre for MedConnect | Endometriosis: Behind the Pain, a powerful and timely panel discussion hosted by UNSW Medicine & Health on 3 September 2025.

The event brought together leading experts and passionate advocates to explore the complex realities of endometriosis — a chronic condition affecting millions worldwide.

Moderated by Sydney Morning Herald Health Editor, Kate Aubusson, the panel unpacked the lived experience of endometriosis and the broader gaps it exposes in women’s healthcare, research, and funding.

The panel featured; Professor Bronwyn Graham, Director of the Centre for Sex & Gender Equity in Health & Medicine at The George Institute, Professor Jason Abbott, Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UNSW Medicine & Health, Lily Ainsworth, Founding Director of Grevillea Foundation, and Monica Forlano, Board Chair of Endometriosis Australia.

Panellists delved into the challenges faced by those living with endometriosis, including misdiagnosis, fertility struggles, and the emotional toll of chronic pain.

“For me, it’s daily pain, chronic pain,” said Ms Ainsworth. “Enormous flare-ups that leave me pretty disabled for five days. It feels like someone’s put barbed wire in my abdomen and just left it there.”

She stressed the importance of normalising conversations about periods and pain, especially in clinical settings.

“Even if you have a great doctor, if you’re not comfortable talking about your period because you’ve never been asked before, that’s a barrier.”

The discussion also highlighted the broader gender inequities in healthcare and the urgent need for increased research, funding, and awareness.

Prof. Graham spoke candidly about the historical neglect of women’s health in research.

“The reason we know so little about endometriosis is because we know very little about women's bodies, or gender. Since the dawn of medical research, the focus has been on the male body.”

Prof. Graham also addressed the issue of medical gaslighting, urging clinicians to take women's pain seriously.

“When we dismiss pain as just a normal part of being a woman, it leads to delayed diagnoses, misdiagnoses, and just one of the many consequences of that is poorer mental health.”

The panel also explored the innovations offering hope for those affected by this chronic condition, including the launch of the Ainsworth Endometriosis Research Institute at UNSW — a world-first initiative dedicated to transforming care and outcomes for those affected by endometriosis. Prof. Abbott spoke about the future of endometriosis care and the critical role of research in developing improved diagnostic tools and personalised treatment pathways.

“The hardest part of my job is saying, ‘I don’t know.’ We could do this treatment, and I don't know whether you'll respond. But if I could take a blood sample and I could run it through a fancy machine at UNSW Ainsworth Endometriosis Research Institute, and it spits out a little program that says, actually, what you need is this combination of drugs, of treatment, of whatever, because that's what is the best thing for you, then everyone's a winner.”

The panellists emphasised the need to move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches and towards care that is timely, tailored, and informed by both robust data and lived experience. They also highlighted the power of collective action, and urged the audience to channel their energy into advocacy.

Prof. Abbott said: “We've got all of this hope, and now we've got momentum, and there's this huge, big force that's coming up behind us. And so I'm going to say to all of you in the room, make a noise about this. Get involved. Talk to other people about it. Get into research, because that's the way that we make a difference.”

Throughout the evening, guests were invited to reflect on how far the conversation around endometriosis has come — and how much further it needs to go. From personal stories to policy reform, the event underscored the importance of listening to lived experience and driving systemic change.

Following the panel, guests had the opportunity to network and explore interactive activations from Endometriosis Australia, allowing them to continue the conversation and ask further questions. 

For those who missed the event or would like to revisit the discussion, a recording is available to download, watch, and share with colleagues, friends, and family.