The Daily Aus Inside Victoria's endo scandal
Mar 2, 2026
A scandal over surgical treatment for endometriosis in Victoria prompts a review of diagnosis standards. The story covers long diagnostic delays, questions about unusually high surgery rates, and troubling pathology results. It explains laparoscopy, institutional complaints, and government actions to standardise care and expand specialised clinics.
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Endometriosis Prevalence And Impact
- Endometriosis affects at least one in seven Australian women and causes debilitating pelvic pain and infertility risks.
- Emma Gillespie cites federal figures and describes how tissue grows outside the uterus, often on bowels and bladder, creating severe disruption.
Seven Year Diagnostic Delay
- Historically women wait an average of seven years from first symptoms to diagnosis, reflecting systemic dismissal of pelvic pain.
- Zara Seidler and Emma highlight cultural messages like "push through it" and being told pain is normal, prolonging suffering.
What A Laparoscopy Entails
- Laparoscopy is an invasive keyhole surgery used both to diagnose and remove endo tissue, requiring general anaesthetic and weeks of recovery.
- Emma explains surgeons insert a camera via small abdominal cuts and can remove tissue during the same procedure.