Surgery and Endometriosis: What You Need to Know

Recent media coverage has raised concerns that some people with endometriosis may have undergone surgery that was either not necessary or not appropriate. We understand that this coverage may feel unsettling — especially for those who have already been through one or more procedures.

If you are living with endometriosis, or have had surgery for it, it is important to pause before drawing conclusions about your own care. Endometriosis is a complex, chronic inflammatory condition that does not look the same in every person. Some people experience superficial disease; others have deeply infiltrating lesions affecting the bowel, bladder or ovaries. Symptoms range from mild to debilitating. Management must be individualised. Surgery has long been one, and remains, one of several recognised treatment options for endometriosis.

According to the Australian Living Evidence Guideline developed through RANZCOG, surgery is not required as a first-line diagnostic step. First-line, symptomatic management usually involves hormonal therapy and symptom management. However, laparoscopy may be considered when symptoms persist despite appropriate treatment, when imaging suggests significant disease such as endometrioma or deep endometriosis, when fertility is a priority, or when a diagnosis remains uncertain.

Importantly, these guidelines emphasise shared decision-making and careful discussion of benefits and risks. Surgery, in any form, is not an absolute cure for endometriosis, and it may not improve symptoms for everyone. But for some people, it can reduce pain, improve quality of life, or assist fertility outcomes. Evidence from surgical trials demonstrates improvement in pain and quality of life in selected patients. The key is appropriate patient selection and informed consent.

It is also important to recognise that persistent pelvic pain can exist alongside endometriosis or independently of visible lesions. The most effective care acknowledges both the biological disease and the complexity of pain. Interdisciplinary management — including physiotherapy, psychological support and pain medicine — plays an important role in modern care, and this is strongly reflected in national guidelines.

If recent news has left you feeling confused, distressed or questioning your past treatment, you are not alone. Endometriosis already carries a long history of delayed diagnosis and dismissal of symptoms. Public debate can reopen those wounds. Before assuming that your surgery was unnecessary, consider reviewing your own clinical history, imaging and operative reports with a trusted clinician. Treatment decisions are made based on symptoms, imaging findings, response to prior therapies and individual priorities at that time.

Endometriosis Australia remains committed to supporting people living with endometriosis and pelvic pain. If you are experiencing distress related to your healthcare experience, our organisation can provide peer support, evidence-based information and guidance toward appropriate services. We are not a regulatory body, but we are here to ensure that people have access to compassionate, trauma-informed support and reliable information.

Endometriosis care in Australia continues to evolve. Research investment has increased, diagnosis is improving, and multidisciplinary care is expanding. Debate within medicine is part of that evolution, but it should never undermine the lived experience of those affected.
Your pain is real. Your experience matters. And you deserve care that is thoughtful, evidence-based and centred around you.

For support, explore our support group network.

Download this statement as a PDF HERE.