Forgot Password

Sign In

Register

  • Company Information

  • Billing Address

  • Are you primarily interested in advertising *

  • Do you want to recieve the HealthTimes Newsletter?

  • Australia's first national endometriosis plan is due to be released in July

    Author: AAP

Women suffering from endometriosis are being told to "suck it up" because period pain is part of being a woman, federal parliament has been told.

Endometriosis brings horror stories of women forced to have hysterectomies too young, being told to suck up the pain and waiting decades for a diagnosis, federal parliament has heard.

Subscribe for FREE to the HealthTimes magazine



In some cases women are told period pain is just part of being a woman and are seen as being the "sick person" in the office, Labor MP Gai Brodtmann says.

"(Women are) told basically suck it up because period pain is difficult and painful and you have to get on with it - this is part of being a woman," she said.

The Canberra MP spoke on a motion to raise the profile of the condition put to parliament by Liberal MP Nola Marino, who has experienced the debilitating condition through her daughter Kylie.

FEATURED JOBS

Registered Nurse - Surgical
St Vincent's Private Hospital
Anaesthetics Specialist
Omega Medical Pty Ltd
Womens Imaging Sonographer
South Coast Radiology


It took Kylie 20 years to be diagnosed with the condition, while the average diagnosis time is seven-to-10 years.

"What she suffered during that time is what thousands of women around Australia are suffering right now and have suffered for so many years," Ms Marino said.

Australia's first national endometriosis plan is due to be released in July and includes a focus on public awareness and education, clinical management and care, and research.

Ms Marino urged women and GPs to take their symptoms seriously and for GPs and gynaecologists to do the same.

"Take these women seriously, please," she urged.

Labor MP Mike Freelander, a doctor, said his daughter suffered from endometriosis for years before she was diagnosed.

"As a father I feel guilty that I tended to downplay her complaints, and as a doctor I feel even more guilty that I downplayed her complaints and her symptoms, and it's made me realise what an important issue this is," he said.

Liberal Julian Leeser revealed his wife Joanna had undergone multiple surgeries for the condition, and said husbands and partners love and support those women and "indeed we think you're amazing".

Giving his first speech since returning to parliament after paternity leave, Mr Leeser said he knew the effects endometriosis could have on fertility and the importance of a correct diagnosis and specialty care.

"My message to women experiencing period pain is don't suffer in silence. Get it checked and ask about endometriosis and ask and ask again," he said.

Comments

Thanks, you've subscribed!

Share this free subscription offer with your friends

Email to a Friend


  • Remaining Characters: 500