What Is Endometriosis & How Can You Manage It?

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about a condition affecting 1 in 9 women in Australia. 

If your period pain feels overwhelming, if intercourse is painful, or if you experience ongoing pelvic pain, bowel or bladder discomfort it is not “just bad periods.” 

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. These lesions can attach to the ovaries, bowel, bladder, uterosacral ligaments and pelvic side walls. 

It is not just a hormonal condition. Endometriosis is inflammatory, immune-related and linked to nervous system sensitisation. 

Common Symptoms

Symptoms can include:

• Severe period pain 
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Pain with intercourse 
• Painful bowel movements 
• Bladder urgency or frequency
• Lower back or hip pain 
• Fatigue 

If your pain feels bigger than your period, it deserves to be taken seriously. 

Common Myths About Endometriosis 

There is still a lot of misinformation around this condition. 

Myth: Period pain is normal.
Fact: Mild discomfort may be common. Debilitating pain that disrupts your life is not normal. 

Myth: Pregnancy cures endometriosis.
Fact: Symptoms may temporarily change, but the condition does not disappear. 

Myth: A hysterectomy cures endometriosis.
Fact: Endometriosis can exist outside the uterus. 

Myth: If scans are normal, nothing is wrong.
Fact: Imaging can miss lesions. Laparoscopy remains the gold standard for diagnosis. 

Your pain is real, even if it has been dismissed. 

How Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Can Help 

Physiotherapy does not remove endometriosis lesions, but it plays a critical role in managing pelvic pain. 

Chronic inflammation often leads to pelvic floor muscle overactivity and guarding. Over time, the nervous system can become more sensitive, amplifying pain signals. 

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help with: 

• Reducing pelvic floor tension 
• Improving pain with intercourse 
• Supporting bowel and bladder function 
• Managing scar tissue post-surgery 
• Down-training an overactive nervous system 

At Western Women’s & Men’s Health in Hoppers Crossing, we work closely with GPs and gynaecologists to provide multidisciplinary pelvic pain care. 

Can Diet Support Endometriosis? 

Diet does not cure endometriosis. However, research suggests women with endometriosis may experience increased oxidative stress and inflammation. 

Certain foods may help support inflammation balance: 

Vitamin C rich foods
Kiwi, strawberries, capsicum, broccoli 

Vitamin E rich foods
Almonds, sunflower seeds, avocado, spinach 

High antioxidant foods
Blueberries, turmeric, green tea, dark chocolate (85%+) 

Supporting gut health is also important, as many women with endometriosis experience IBS-like symptoms. 

Small, sustainable changes matter more than extreme diets. 

You Deserve Proper Care 

Endometriosis is complex. It often requires a team approach, including a GP, gynaecologist, pelvic floor physiotherapist and sometimes a dietitian or psychologist. 

If you are struggling with pelvic pain, painful periods or intimacy concerns, support is available. 

At Western Women’s and Men’s Health, our pelvic health physiotherapists work alongside your wider healthcare team to help you understand your symptoms and build practical strategies to manage pain, support your pelvic floor, and feel more confident in your body. We’re here to listen, validate your experience, and support you with care that’s tailored to you.

If your pain feels bigger than your period, it deserves to be taken seriously.