By AIDAN KNIGHT
ONE in every seven women under the age of 44 is diagnosed with endometriosis in Australia.
Treatment is complex because symptoms vary widely from patient to patient. There is no simple, non-invasive test to confirm the disease.
Despite being formally recognised for more than a century, endometriosis research has accelerated only in recent decades, with experts noting that the condition’s fragmented scientific history continues to shape the challenges of diagnosis, treatment, and patient care today.
Laparoscopic surgery is the only way to confirm with certainty if a patient’s symptoms are related to endometriosis, while treatment ranges from hormonal therapies and pain management to excision surgery.
This long research gap has shaped modern treatment debates, now back in the spotlight following recent national investigations.
Reporting by ABC News and Four Corners has detailed complaints from patients who allege they underwent unnecessary or overly aggressive surgeries which did not reduce symptoms as promised, raising broader questions about standards of care, oversight and informed consent within the specialty.
These procedures were performed by a professional regarded as the leader in his field, prompting big questions about the healthcare system and its approach to women’s safety.
While the allegations relate to a specific practitioner, advocates say the scrutiny reflects wider systemic issues – including inconsistent clinical pathways, limited long-term data on surgical outcomes and uneven access to multidisciplinary care.
For the Latrobe Valley, the national debate carries particular relevance.
A new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic is set to open in Morwell, forming part of a federally backed expansion of specialist services aimed at improving access for regional communities.
The clinic is expected to provide diagnosis support, treatment pathways and coordinated care closer to home for Gippsland patients, many of whom have historically travelled to Melbourne for specialist appointments, often facing long waitlists and high out-of-pocket costs.
Morwell was announced last November to be one of 11 additional clinics to open across the country in early 2026, and will operate under the Gippsland Primary Health Network banner.
Jason Abbott, a professor at UNSW Sydney and one of Australia’s most experienced endometriosis specialists, said the condition requires careful, individualised treatment.
“Endometriosis is a complex condition, and there is no one-size-fits-all treatment,” he said following the Four Corners investigation.
“Surgery can be appropriate for some women, but it must be carefully considered, clearly documented and guided by pathology and best-practice standards.
“People with endometriosis should feel empowered to seek a second opinion if they have concerns, and never feel rushed into making decisions about their care.”
As the national conversation around endometriosis continues to evolve, the opening of the Morwell clinic represents a significant step for Gippsland – bringing a condition often discussed in national headlines into sharper local focus and potentially offering patients a clearer pathway to care closer to home.
The Women In Gippsland organisation said to see a clinic of this variety be established in a regional area was hugely beneficial to the area.
“Access to quality healthcare shouldn’t depend on your postcode, so this is a really important step in closing that health and pain gap for regional women, who undoubtedly make up a big percentage of the amount of people affected by endometriosis,” a representative told the Express.
A mixed message on women’s health is being sent in Latrobe City, as the same municipality promoting a soon-to-be-opened endometriosis clinic, is also championing a public figure who is known to belittle those suffering the condition.
Comedian and radio personality Marty Sheargold was removed from Triple M last year, in breach of commercial radio decency standards.
Sheargold was heard to say on a national broadcast that endometriosis was “made up”, as well as extensive sexist remarks concerning women’s sport and the Matilda’s soccer team.
While Sheargold was forced into early radio retirement as a result, he has managed to continue his successful stand-up comedy career, turning his cancellation into ticket sales with the aptly-titled Red Card Tour. This tour will stop by Traralgon’s GPAC – a Latrobe City Council venue – this May.
Following his on-air comments, Sheargold was judged by ACMA to have conveyed contempt for women’s sport and women more generally, going beyond “generally acceptable standards of decency.”
Kerri Irwin, a gender equality advocate in Gippsland called the choice to book Sheargold a bit of a let down.
“There are so many people that are supportive of people of all genders and identities, and we should be careful where we’re investing our money (in that context).”
Endometriosis Australia also condemned Sheargold’s comments about the condition, calling them “misleading and harmful” and highlighting the stigma that contributes to delayed diagnosis and under-treatment.
The duality of the new centre paired with Sheargold’s platform in Gippsland underscores how the region is now at the intersection of national debates about women’s health, public accountability, and community standards – debates made even more urgent by ongoing legal scrutiny of clinical care.
Melbourne law firm Arnold Thomas & Becker is investigating potentially unwarranted surgeries performed by gynaecologist Dr Simon Gordon, which may have affected hundreds of women.
The firm is considering taking things as far as a class action, seeing as there are up to 13,000 women affected by the malpractice.
The investigation highlights the very real consequences of inadequate oversight and the importance of both clinical and community accountability, reinforcing why the opening of the Morwell clinic and wider awareness in Gippsland are so critical.
