For people living with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, feeling heard and believed can be just as important as treatment itself.
Haley has lived with endometriosis for 13 years. Like many people with the condition, her symptoms went beyond pain, affecting her bladder, bowel, mental health and ability to do the things she loved doing. At its worst, managing symptoms became the focus of everything she did, from leaving the house to making plans for the future.
“Endo is a debilitating condition where your life revolves around it,” Haley says. “My life was completely revolved around daily medication just to leave the house.”
Over time, the impact extended well beyond physical symptoms. Haley describes withdrawing from social activities and placing long‑held goals, like travelling, on hold.
“It definitely plays a lot on your mental health,” she says.
Haley’s experience changed when she referred herself to the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Management GP Clinic. From the first appointment, she felt there was space to tell her story fully – and that her symptoms were taken seriously.
“I felt just really heard for the first time,” Haley says. “In such a holistic way, I felt looked after.”
Rather than focusing on a single symptom or treatment option, care at the clinic centres on listening, validation and understanding how endometriosis and pelvic pain affects every part of a person’s life.
Sarah Thorncraft, Clinical Project Lead of the Endo Pelvic Pain Clinic at Orange Family Medical Centre, explains that the clinic supports women and people assigned female at birth who experience pelvic pain that has lasted six months or longer, including those with endometriosis or adenomyosis, and those still seeking answers.
“We start by giving patients the opportunity to tell their story and have their symptoms validated,” Sarah says.
The clinic uses a nurse‑led, multidisciplinary model, working closely with GPs, physiotherapists and other health professionals as needed. Patients are supported to access investigations, explore management options and better understand their condition, with the goal of helping them achieve their own health goals.
Importantly, patients remain involved throughout the process.
“We work with patients so they feel they’re part of their healthcare journey,” Sarah says. “And that they’re in the driver’s seat.”
For Haley, this approach helped her move from coping day to day to feeling more confident managing symptoms over time.
Together with the clinic team, she mapped out what a good quality of life with endometriosis could look like – including how to manage pain, bladder and bowel symptoms, and flare‑ups as they arise.
“I now have the tools to know how to manage it,” Haley says. “If a symptom pops up, I know what to do.”
While she still has days where symptoms flare, Haley says the difference is having knowledge, a plan and ongoing support.
The Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Management GP Clinic focuses on helping patients feel supported, informed and empowered to manage their condition, recognising that endometriosis is not just a physical condition, but one that can affect every aspect of life.
“I just want patients to feel better,” Sarah says. “I want them to get their life back and be able to do what they want, without being held back by pain and symptoms.”
For Haley, that support has been life‑changing.
“There are no words to explain how grateful I am,” she says. “It’s given me so much more life.”
Watch Haley’s story below to learn more about the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Management GP Clinic and how it supports people living with pelvic pain.
