Māori stories on endometriosis

By Mahi Tahi Media

“It becomes a part of your brand as a person. ‘Oh Jade has endo’.”

Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can cause severe, life-impacting pain and there is no known cure for this disease.

Endometriosis affects roughly 10% (190 million) of reproductive aged people with uteruses globally. According to researchers, in New Zealand the delay for a diagnosis of endometriosis is on average 8.5 years.

Hine* was misdiagnosed for 20 years. The pain she experienced was the equivalent of the contractions of giving birth. 

After living with endometriosis since age 12, Jade had a hysterectomy this year aged 30.

“I still have endo, technically, I just have no uterus now, so I don’t have the pain.”

This is part of our reo Māori series, Ohinga, created by Mahi Tahi Media, with funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Stay tuned for a new episode every week.

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