A third of endometriosis patients had been advised by a medical practitioner to become pregnant to relieve their symptoms, new research has found. The same work confirms that people with endometriosis in New Zealand wait a median of 10 years from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis.
The findings sit within two reports published together in August 2026 as part of Barriers and Facilitators of Endometriosis Care in Aotearoa New Zealand, a research project from Endometriosis New Zealand and the University of Canterbury that surveyed more than 600 people living with the condition.
Endometriosis New Zealand chief executive Tanya Cooke says the pregnancy finding is particularly concerning.
“Pregnancy is not a treatment for endometriosis, and no medical practitioner should recommend that someone become pregnant simply to relieve their endometriosis symptoms.
“Whether to have children is an intensely personal decision. It should never be presented as a treatment plan for endometriosis or other forms of pelvic pain.
“That one-third of participants in the study had received this advice shows that an outdated understanding of endometriosis remains in our health system.
“This reinforces the need for improved education and training for primary health professionals who diagnose and treat endometriosis.”
Painful periods, fatigue and lower-back pain were the symptoms participants reported most often. While 86% had been advised by a doctor to use over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol, only around a quarter found those medications effective.
“This shows how difficult symptom management can be for people living with endometriosis,” Cooke says.
“Many patients need access to a wide range of evidence-based treatment options and require ongoing support to find the combination of treatments that works for them.”
The study also examined complementary and alternative therapies. No individual therapy was rated effective by more than 70% of those who had tried it. Cooke says that is why there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach to endometriosis care.
“Care needs to be holistic, multidisciplinary and personalised, supporting each person to find the combination of treatments and approaches that works best for them.”
A decade of delay
Within the 10-year median delay, people waited four years before first raising their symptoms with a doctor, then a further six years before diagnosis.
“Painful periods and other possible endometriosis symptoms are still too often normalised as something people simply have to put up with,” Cooke says.
“Public awareness and the right training for primary health professionals really matter. People need to be able to recognise that their symptoms may not be normal, know when to seek help and have confidence that they will be listened to.”
For more than half of participants, relief was the main emotion they felt on diagnosis, reflecting the validation that finally having an answer can provide.
The study also found that one in eight participants underwent a laparoscopy in which no endometriosis was identified, only for the disease to be found during a later laparoscopy. That meant at least two surgeries and more time without an explanation for their symptoms.
“Patients should not need repeated surgery before their endometriosis is identified. They deserve access to the right expertise to get an accurate diagnosis at the first opportunity,” Cooke says.
The case for a national plan
Lead researcher Katherine Ellis, a PhD candidate at the University of Canterbury, says barriers can arise throughout a person’s endometriosis journey.
“Receiving an endometriosis diagnosis is a major challenge in itself but having that confirmation does not necessarily mean the difficulties are over. Many patients continue to face an uphill battle finding treatment approaches that work for them.”
Ellis says the research provides important New Zealand-specific evidence about where improvements are needed.
“The experiences described in this research demonstrate why patients must be listened to, properly informed and actively involved in decisions about their care.”
“GPs, practice nurses and other primary health professionals need the training, support and resources to recognise possible endometriosis, investigate symptoms appropriately, provide effective initial management and make timely referrals when specialist care is needed.”
Cooke says the findings also strengthen the case for New Zealand to develop a National Endometriosis Action Plan.
“We need a coordinated national programme that brings together awareness, professional education, diagnosis, treatment, research and support.
“People living with endometriosis deserve to have their symptoms recognised sooner and receive personalised care that gives them the best possible opportunity to successfully manage their condition.”
