Endometriosis, Chronic Pain, and the Importance of Being Heard

How many times does someone have to say “something is wrong” before they’re believed?

For many people living with endometriosis, the answer has been far too many.

Endometriosis is often described as a condition involving pain, inflammation, and reproductive health challenges. But for many patients, one of the most difficult parts of the experience is not only the symptoms themselves. It’s the experience of trying to get someone to take those symptoms seriously.

A recent systematic review explored the experiences of people with endometriosis in primary healthcare settings and found common themes of feeling dismissed, unheard, and unsupported. Many participants described having their pain normalized, their concerns questioned, or their path to diagnosis delayed because their symptoms were not always recognized or taken seriously (Harris et al., 2025). 

When someone repeatedly hears that their pain is “normal,” they may start to wonder if they’re asking for too much. They may stop bringing up concerns, push through symptoms, or feel disconnected from their own body.

This is one of the reasons the emotional impact of chronic health conditions matters. The experience of not being believed can leave its own mark. It can affect confidence, relationships, mental health, and the ability to advocate for care.

At our clinic, we often explore the stories people have been carrying about their bodies and their health. For someone with endometriosis, this may include rebuilding trust in their own experiences, processing grief around delayed diagnosis, coping with uncertainty, and finding ways to communicate their needs with greater confidence.

People living with chronic pain do not need to prove that their suffering is real before they deserve support.

Listening is part of care. Believing someone is part of care. And creating healthcare spaces where people feel heard can change the entire experience of seeking help.

Read more: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23293691.2025.2545308#abstract