Endo Warriors
Aotearoa

Supporting those affected by endometriosis, menstrual health challenges, and period inequity across Aotearoa.

We provide education, advocacy, practical support, and community connection to empower people to better understand their health, access support, and know they are not alone.

Get Support

Education

Donate

Im lookong for ....

Endometriosis Support

Advocacy & Navigation

Welcome to Endo Warriors Aotearoa

Supporting menstrual health, endometriosis awareness, and period equity across Aotearoa.

Endo Warriors Aotearoa is a registered New Zealand charity dedicated to improving menstrual health education, raising awareness of endometriosis, reducing period inequity, and ensuring everyone has access to the support and information they deserve.

We believe that knowledge is empowering, early recognition matters, and no one should have to navigate their health journey alone. Through education, advocacy, practical support, community connection, and collaboration, we're working towards a future where menstrual health is understood, endometriosis is recognised earlier, and everyone feels seen, heard, and supported.

Learn More About Endo Warriors Aotearoa

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic, whole body inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. These growths can cause inflammation, pain, scarring, and affect many areas of the body.

Although symptoms often become worse during menstruation, endometriosis is much more than a period condition. It can affect people every day of the month and have a significant impact on education, employment, relationships, fertility, mental wellbeing, and quality of life.

It is estimated that around 1 in 10 people assigned female at birth are living with endometriosis, yet many wait years for a diagnosis.

The good news is that education, awareness, and early recognition can help people seek support sooner.

Learn More About Endometriosis

Our Programmes

Supporting our community through education, advocacy, practical support, and connection.

Living Well with Endometriosis

& Menstrual Health

Education | Support, Advocacy | Resources| Community

Whether you're living with endometriosis, experiencing difficult periods, supporting someone you care about, or wanting to learn more about menstrual health, we're here to help. Explore trusted education, personalised support, advocacy, practical resources, and community connections designed to help you better understand your health and live well.

Explore Living Well

Period Education

Education | Schools | Workplaces | Community | Menstrual Health

Knowledge has the power to change lives. Our evidence-informed education helps young people, schools, workplaces, and communities better understand menstrual health, endometriosis, and when symptoms may not be normal. By increasing awareness that endometriosis is a chronic, whole-body inflammatory condition—not simply a period illness—we aim to reduce stigma, encourage earlier recognition, and empower people to make informed decisions about their health.

Explore Period Education

Get Involved

Volunteer | Donate | Fundraise | Partner | Advocate

Real change happens when communities come together. Whether you'd like to volunteer, donate, fundraise, partner with us, or simply help raise awareness, there are many ways you can support Endo Warriors Aotearoa. Every contribution, big or small, helps us provide education, practical resources, advocacy, and support to more people across Aotearoa. Together, we can create a future where menstrual health is better understood, endometriosis is recognised earlier, and no one has to navigate their journey alone.

Get Involved

Now You See Me

Photography | Storytelling | Awareness | Advocacy | Community

Featured Community Exhibition

Now You See Me is a powerful photographic exhibition sharing the lived experiences of those affected by endometriosis through portraiture and personal storytelling. By making an often invisible condition visible, the exhibition creates space for understanding, empathy, and connection while challenging stigma and starting conversations that can inspire change.

It is more than an exhibition. It is a community storytelling project that honours lived experience and reminds people that endometriosis is real, complex, and deserving of recognition.

View the Exhibition

5,921 voices calling for change.

Our petition calling for an independent review and rewrite of New Zealand's endometriosis guidelines has been presented to Parliament and referred to the Health Committee. Together, our community is helping shape the future of endometriosis care in Aotearoa.

Learn More

Make a Difference

Together We Can Make A Change

Featured Event

8–13 September 2026 | Thistle Hall Gallery, Wellington

An exhibition where portraits meet lived experience.

Now You See Me brings together powerful photography and personal stories to shine a light on the realities of living with endometriosis. Through authentic storytelling, the exhibition encourages empathy, raises awareness, and helps make an often invisible condition visible.

The exhibition is free to attend and welcomes the public, schools, and community groups, with dedicated school visits available throughout the week.

Explore the Exhibition & Book a School Visit

Donate

Every donation helps us provide free education, practical resources, advocacy, and support to more people across Aotearoa.

Donate Now

Volunteer

Share your time, skills, and passion to help create meaningful change in the lives of those affected by endometriosis and menstrual health challenges.

Become a Volunteer

Fundraise

Host a fundraiser at your school, workplace, or community and help raise both funds and awareness for Endo Warriors Aotearoa.

Start Fundraising

Partner With Us

Together we can create lasting impact. Partner with us through sponsorship, collaboration, workplace education, or community initiatives.

Partner With Us

Donate Products

Support our programmes by donating menstrual products, educational resources, equipment, or professional services to help us reach more people.

Donate Products

Upcoming Events

Thu, 16 Jul
Periods 101: For Dads, Partners & Whānau
Online
RSVP
16 Jul 2026, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm NZST
Online
Periods can be hard to talk about if you were never taught how. This online session helps dads, partners, whānau and support people understand periods, products, warning signs and how to offer calm, shame-free support.
Tue, 08 Sept
Now You See Me The Endometriosis Empowerment Project
Thistle Hall Community Venue
Learn more
08 Sept 2026, 10:30 am – 13 Sept 2026, 2:30 pm
Thistle Hall Community Venue, 293 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
The Endometriosis Empowerment Project A powerful photographic exhibition amplifying the lived experiences of those affected by endometriosis in Aotearoa through portraiture and personal storytelling.

Latest News & Resources
coming soon

Our Partners

Recently, Yessenia facilitated a menstrual education session for Year 5–8 ākonga and their caregivers at Te Kura o Wilford.

The session created space for young people and whānau to learn, ask questions, laugh, and talk about periods without shame. We were grateful to receive feedback that the learning environment was safe, culturally responsive, empowering, and supportive.

One parent shared:

“Great session tonight, really helpful, and it made everything a lot less awkward, especially because there were lots of jokes and laughter along the way.”

This is what period education should feel like.
Open. Safe. Supportive. Real.

Periods are normal, and young people deserve education that helps them feel prepared, confident, and supported.

#EndoWarriorsAotearoa #PeriodEducation #MenstrualHealth #PeriodsAreNormal #PeriodPovertyNZ

People often think the most expensive part of endometriosis is the doctor’s appointments.

It’s not.

Then they think it’s the medications.

It’s not.

Then they think it’s the surgeries, specialist visits, scans, physiotherapy, or pain management.

Those things are expensive.

But they’re not always what those with endometriosis talk about most.

They talk about the holiday they cancelled.

The concert they missed.

The hobby they gave up.

The family event they left early.

The promotion they didn’t apply for.

The shift they couldn’t work.

The opportunities they passed on because they didn’t know how their body would feel that day.

Research shows endometriosis has a significant impact on employment, productivity, and income, with many people losing hours of work each week because of symptoms. Productivity loss is one of the largest economic costs associated with the disease.

But the true cost of endometriosis isn’t measured only in dollars.

It’s measured in experiences.

In spontaneity.

In confidence.

In independence.

In relationships.

In dreams that get postponed.

In the mental load of constantly planning your life around pain.

Weeks become months.

Months become years.

And many people realise they aren’t just losing money.

They’re losing pieces of their life.

Because the most expensive part of endometriosis isn’t always what comes out of your bank account.

It’s what pain slowly takes with it.

💛 What do you think has been the biggest hidden cost of endometriosis in your life?

#Endometriosis
#EndometriosisAwareness
#ChronicPain
#InvisibleIllness
#EndoWarriorsAotearoa

Recently, we another FREE delivered period and endo education to Year 5–8 students.

At the start of the session, we encouraged students to write down any questions they had about periods, bodies, products, pain, and asking for help.

They had so many thoughtful and honest questions. As we went through the class, most of them were answered, but collecting the questions at the end is also a really important way to recap. Sometimes young people have questions they do not feel ready to ask out loud, or they only think of them after the session.

One question we were asked was:
“What if your teacher is a man? Like the only man in the room right now, he is my teacher this year. What do I do?”

This is such an important question. But first I also want to acknowledge that this teacher is amazing. By being part of the class, listening, and learning alongside his students, he was showing them that he was there to support them too.

If a young person gets their period at school, feels unwell, leaks through clothing, needs a period product, or needs help, they deserve support no matter who their teacher is.

A male teacher is still a teacher, and it is their job to help students respectfully.

You do not have to explain everything in front of the class. You can simply say:

“I need to go to the bathroom.”
“I need to go to the office.”
“I need help with something private.”
“Can I please speak to another staff member?”

Periods are normal. Asking for help is okay.

Schools should make sure students know where period products are, who they can go to, and how to ask for help.

No young person should feel stuck, embarrassed, or unsupported because of who is in the room.

#EndoWarriorsAotearoa #PeriodEducation #MenstrualHealth #PeriodsAreNormal #PeriodPovertyNZ

If you could go back to the beginning of your endometriosis journey, what would you tell yourself?

Would you tell yourself to trust your instincts?

To keep pushing for answers?
To find a specialist sooner?
To stop minimising your pain?
To know that you’re not lazy, weak, or overreacting?

For many of us, there are things we know now that we wish someone had told us years ago.

Maybe it’s practical advice.
Maybe it’s something you learned the hard way.
Maybe it’s simply that you’re not alone.

Today, let’s create a space for those who are newly diagnosed, still searching for answers, or just beginning their endometriosis journey.

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self at the start of your journey, what would it be?

Share it in the comments below. Your words might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.

#Endometriosis
#EndometriosisAwareness
#EndoWarriorsAotearoa
#EndoCommunity
#LivingWithEndometriosis

This month, Endo Warriors Aotearoa is delivering 14 FREE Period and Endometriosis Education Sessions, reaching 325 students and young people across our community.

Through these sessions, we will distribute FREE:

• 630 pairs of period underwear
• 324 reusable menstrual products (period cups and reusable pad packs)
• 13 period togs
• 12 copies of My First Ikura by @qianematatasipu
• 325 wet bags
• 325 washing machine bags
• 325 menstrual health resource packs

But these sessions are about much more than period products.

Yes, we talk about periods.

But we also talk about what isn’t normal.

Because despite what many people have been told, endometriosis is not just a bad period.

Pain so severe it stops you from going to school, work, sports, or spending time with friends isn’t something people should simply have to “put up with.”

Through these sessions, young people learn about menstrual health, body literacy, recognising symptoms that may need medical attention, and how to advocate for themselves when something doesn’t feel right.

The average diagnosis time for endometriosis is still far too long. The earlier people understand what’s normal and what isn’t, the sooner they can seek support and answers.

Education changes lives. Sometimes it even changes the course of a diagnosis.

Thank you to everyone who supports this mahi and helps make these programmes possible.

#PeriodEducation
#EndometriosisAwareness
#MenstrualHealth
#EndoWarriorsAotearoa
#PeriodEquity

The hidden cost of endometriosis.

When people think about the cost of endometriosis, they often think about doctor’s appointments, medications, surgeries, physiotherapy, scans, or specialist visits.

Those costs add up.
But there’s another cost that often goes unnoticed.
Research has found that people with endometriosis lose an average of 6.3 hours of work productivity every week due to symptoms such as pain and fatigue.
That’s more than 327 hours every year

Some international research estimates the economic impact of this lost productivity can exceed NZ$30,000 per person per year.

Let that sink in.

Not because people don’t want to work.

Not because they aren’t trying hard enough.

But because they’re managing chronic pain, fatigue, flare-ups, medical appointments, recovery time, and symptoms that can affect every aspect of daily life.

And that’s only part of the story.

Because the true cost of endometriosis isn’t always measured in dollars.

It’s the opportunities missed.

The careers put on hold.

The education interrupted.

The holidays cancelled.

The social events missed.

The dreams delayed.

The reality is that endometriosis doesn’t just affect health.

It affects employment, finances, relationships, education, mental wellbeing, and quality of life.

Endometriosis is not only a health issue. It’s also an economic and social issue.

👇 How has endometriosis impacted your work, study, or financial situation?

#Endometriosis
#EndometriosisAwareness
#ChronicPain
#InvisibleIllness
#EndoWarriorsAotearoa

Periods 101: For Dads, Partners & Whānau

Periods can be hard to talk about if you were never taught how.

This beginner-friendly online session is for dads, partners, grandparents, carers, whānau, teachers, youth workers, coaches, and anyone who does not menstruate but wants to better support someone who does.

We will cover:
• What periods are and what can be considered "normal"
• What is not normal, including heavy bleeding and severe pain
• Period products and what they are used for
• How to support young people without shame or awkwardness
• When someone may need medical support
• Endometriosis warning signs
• How to talk about periods in a calm and supportive way

This session was created from lived experience. I was raised by my dad, who loved and supported me but had very little period education himself. When I got my first period, I did not really understand what was happening or what was normal.

So many support people want to help, but they were never taught how. This session is here to help change that.

Date: Thursday 16 July 2026
Time: 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Where: Online
Cost: Free/Koha
Spaces: Limited to 20 people

Register on our website under Events - Link in Bio

Endo Warriors Aotearoa. Supporting those who menstruate with confidence, care and no shame.

#EndoWarriorsAotearoa
#Periods101
#PeriodEducation
#EndometriosisAwareness
#PeriodPositive

People often assume that being overwhelmed means you're not coping.
But for many of those living with endometriosis, it's the exact opposite.
We're overwhelmed because we *are* coping.

We're managing the pain.
We're managing the fatigue.
We're managing appointments.
We're managing medications.
We're managing work, study, parenting, relationships, finances, and daily life.

We're remembering prescriptions, tracking symptoms, advocating for ourselves, navigating healthcare systems, and carrying the emotional weight of living with a disease that many people still don't understand.

Day after day.
Month after month.
Year after year.

People see us functioning and assume we're okay.
What they don't see is the constant mental load that comes with living with endometriosis.

Sometimes being overwhelmed isn't a sign that you're failing.
Sometimes it's the completely normal response to carrying more than most people realise.

If you're feeling overwhelmed right now, it doesn't mean you're weak.
It might just mean you've been carrying too much for too long.

If this resonates with you, drop a 💛 below. Sometimes knowing you're not the only one carrying this weight can make all the difference.

#endometriosisawareness #Endometriosis
#ChronicPain #InvisibleIllness #EndoWarriorsAotearoa

We have some exciting news to share.
The Petitions Committee has now transferred our petition, calling for a review and rewrite of the New Zealand Endometriosis Guidelines, to the Health Committee.
This is an important step in the process. It means our petition will now be considered by the parliamentary committee responsible for health matters, ensuring the issues raised by our community continue to be heard.
For too long, those with endometriosis have faced delayed diagnosis, inconsistent care, outdated information, and barriers to accessing support.
That is why we launched this petition.
Not just for those living with endometriosis today, but for future generations who deserve better.
We know there is still a long way to go.
But every signature, every share, every story, and every person who stood alongside us helped make this happen.
To everyone who supported the petition, thank you.
We will continue advocating for evidence based, up to date endometriosis guidelines and better healthcare for everyone affected by endometriosis in Aotearoa.
Today we celebrate this milestone.
Tomorrow we keep pushing for change.
#Endometriosis #EndometriosisAwareness #EndoWarriors #Aotearoa #HealthEquity

At Endo Warriors Aotearoa, we support everyone affected by endometriosis and menstrual health conditions.

That includes women.
That includes transgender people.
That includes non-binary people.
That includes intersex people.
Because endometriosis does not discriminate based on gender identity. Neither should healthcare.

We are deeply concerned by the proposed bill seeking to legally define "man" and "woman".
We do not support legislation that risks excluding, erasing, or further marginalising members of our community.
We also do not support the rhetoric being used to justify it.

Transgender, non-binary, and intersex people already face barriers to healthcare, discrimination, and higher rates of poor health outcomes. Policies and public discussions that question their identities do not make anyone safer. They do not improve healthcare. They do not improve wellbeing.

What they do is send a message to already vulnerable communities that they are less worthy of dignity, respect, and inclusion.

At Endo Warriors Aotearoa, we believe everyone deserves access to healthcare that is respectful, inclusive, and free from discrimination.

We will continue to advocate for all people affected by endometriosis and menstrual health conditions, regardless of their gender identity.

Because healthcare should be about supporting people, not excluding them.
At the end of the day, transgender, non-binary, and intersex people will still be here. They will still deserve respect. They will still deserve healthcare. And they will still deserve to be treated as human beings.

#TransRightsAreHumanRights #EndoWarriors #InclusiveHealthcare #RainbowCommunity #Aotearoa

Sometimes people look at someone with endometriosis and think:

“They went to work, so they must be okay.”

“They went to school, so it can’t be that bad.”

“They made it to the event, so they must be feeling better.”

What they don’t see is everything it took to get there.

The pain medication.
The heat pack.
The sleepless night before.
The hours spent pushing through pain.
The tears shed in private.
The energy borrowed from tomorrow just to get through today.

Many of those with endometriosis become experts at functioning while unwell. Not because the pain isn’t real, but because life doesn’t stop when the pain starts.

Showing up does not mean someone isn’t struggling.

Smiling does not mean someone isn’t hurting.

Getting through the day does not mean the day was easy.

Sometimes the greatest challenge isn’t the event, the workday, or the class.

It’s the crash afterwards.

If you live with endometriosis, chronic pain, or another invisible illness, know that your effort matters, even when nobody else sees it.

What is something people don’t see about living with endometriosis?

#endometriosis #chronicillness #invisibleillness #endowarriors #endometriosisawareness

Living with endometriosis often means carrying thoughts that nobody else hears.
Not because we want to keep them secret. But because explaining them over and over again is exhausting.

Many of those with endometriosis spend their days calculating energy levels, managing symptoms, preparing for flares, cancelling plans, and wondering how much longer they can keep pushing through.

While others see someone going to work, studying, parenting, socialising, or getting through daily life, there's often an invisible conversation happening in the background.

"Can I make it through today?"
"How bad is this flare going to get?"
"What if I can't keep up?"
"Will anyone understand?"

Endometriosis doesn't just affect the body.
It can affect confidence, relationships, finances, mental wellbeing, education, employment, and the way someone plans their entire life.
Sometimes the hardest part isn't the pain itself. It's carrying the weight of it all while trying to look okay.

💛 If any of these thoughts feel familiar, you're not alone.

👇 What is a thought you wish people understood about living with endometriosis?

#Endometriosis #EndometriosisAwareness
#InvisibleIllness #ChronicPain #EndoWarriorsAotearoa

One of the most exhausting parts of living with endometriosis isn't always the pain itself.

Sometimes it's pretending you're okay.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine."
Because explaining the reality feels too complicated.

You don't have the energy to explain the pain, fatigue, brain fog, bloating, nausea, appointments, medications, poor sleep, cancelled plans, financial stress, or the mental toll of carrying an invisible illness every single day.

So you say you're fine.
Not because you're okay.
But because you're tired.
Tired of explaining.
Tired of justifying.
Tired of being questioned.
Tired of hearing "have you tried..." or "you don't look sick."

Many people living with endometriosis become experts at hiding how much they're struggling because the world doesn't always make space for the truth.

The problem is that when we become too good at hiding it, people assume we're coping. Being private about your pain does not mean your pain is small.
Just because someone looks okay doesn't mean they are okay.

💛 If you're carrying more than people realise today, we see you.

👇 Drop a 💛 if you have you ever answered "I'm fine" when you were anything but fine?

#Endometriosis #EndometriosisAwareness #InvisibleIllness
#ChronicPain #EndoWarriorsAotearoa

We’re excited to be taking part in MyGivingCircle’s GiveBack Weekend from 5–7 June 2026.
For this weekend only, MyGivingCircle is sharing a bonus funding pool between participating charities.

✨ Every FREE vote earns Endo Warriors Aotearoa $1
✨ Every donation earns an additional $2 bonus while funds last
⚡ Many charities are taking part, and bonus funding is only available for the first 5,000 votes and donations across the campaign, so please vote as soon as you can.

Vote here (Instagram: Link in Bio):
https://mygivingcircle.org/endo-warriors-aotearoa/vote/free

Your support helps us continue providing:
💛 Free menstrual health and endometriosis education
💛 Period products for those experiencing hardship
💛 One-to-one support and advocacy
💛 Community workshops and resources
💛 Support for people and whānau affected by endometriosis across Aotearoa

How you can help:
✔ Vote for free
✔ Donate if you’re able
✔ Share this post with your friends, whānau, colleagues, and community

Every vote, donation, and share helps us continue supporting those who need us most.

Ngā mihi nui for supporting Endo Warriors Aotearoa and helping us create positive change across Aotearoa.

#EndoWarriorsAotearoa #GiveBackWeekend #EndometriosisAwareness #MyGivingCircle #SupportLocalCharities

One of the hardest parts of living with endometriosis is waking up and instantly knowing your body doesn't feel right.

Before the day has even begun, the pain, fatigue, nausea, bloating, headaches, or other symptoms may already be there waiting for you.

Mentally, it can feel overwhelming knowing you have an entire day ahead when you're already starting with an empty tank.

People often see the appointments, the flare-ups, or the days when symptoms are visible. What they don't see is the quiet moment each morning when you're assessing your pain levels, calculating your energy, and wondering how you're going to make it through the day.

Sometimes the emotional exhaustion arrives before your feet even touch the floor.
If mornings feel heavy for you, please know you're not alone.

Starting every day while managing endometriosis takes a tremendous amount of strength, resilience, and courage that often goes unseen.

👇 Can you relate? What is the hardest part of your mornings with endometriosis?

#EndometriosisAwareness #Endometriosis
#chronicpain #EndoWarriorsAotearoa
#LivingWithEndometriosis

Research has identified four key factors that contribute to people living with chronic pain, including endometriosis, experiencing disbelief, dismissal, or medical gaslighting.

Research highlights four common reasons why people living with chronic pain, including endometriosis, are often dismissed or not believed by healthcare providers:

1. Pain doesn't always show up on tests
Many chronic pain conditions don't appear on MRIs, X-rays, blood tests, or scans. When healthcare providers can't see a clear cause, studies show they may underestimate a person's pain, question its severity, or assume symptoms are being exaggerated.
2. Unconscious bias affects care
Research has found that women, people from ethnic minorities, those with lower incomes, and other marginalised groups are more likely to have their pain underestimated, dismissed, or undertreated.
3. Mental health information can be misinterpreted
Living with chronic pain can affect mental health. However, studies show that when a patient has anxiety, depression, or significant stress, some healthcare providers may rate their pain as less severe rather than recognising that these conditions often occur alongside chronic pain.
4. Gaps in pain education remain
Modern pain science tells us that pain is complex and involves the nervous system, brain, body, emotions, and environment. Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals receive limited education in persistent pain, leading some to focus only on what can be seen on a scan or test result.

💛 None of these factors excuse medical gaslighting. They highlight the urgent need for better pain education, greater awareness of bias, and improved communication between healthcare providers and patients.

Your pain does not need to show up on a scan to be real.

Have you ever felt dismissed, ignored, or not believed because of your pain? Share your experience in the comments or send us a message.

Research consistently shows that chronic pain is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors, and that bias can impact how pain is assessed and treated.

#EndometriosisAwareness
#ChronicPain
#MedicalGaslighting
#PainEducation
#EndoWarriorsAotearoa

Budget 2026 has now been released, but for many people living with endometriosis and chronic illness in Aotearoa, the reality remains the same.

While the Government has announced increased health spending overall, there was no major endometriosis package, no National Endometriosis Action Plan, and no large scale reform focused specifically on chronic illness care.

Many people across Aotearoa may still face:
• Long waitlists for specialists and surgery
• Delayed diagnosis and treatment
• High healthcare costs
• Difficulty accessing disability and financial support
• Mental health impacts linked with chronic pain and medical trauma
• Barriers faced by people living with invisible illnesses

The Budget also included housing and welfare changes. While some people may receive small Accommodation Supplement increases, concerns remain around hardship support changes and whether vulnerable people could be left worse off in the future.

Research shows that endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain cost Aotearoa more than $22 billion every year through healthcare costs, lost income, education disruption, and reduced ability to work because of pain.

This is not just a personal issue.
It is a public health issue.
It is an equity issue.

Those with endometriosis and chronic illness deserve earlier diagnosis, timely treatment, better chronic pain support, more specialist services, and equitable healthcare access regardless of income or postcode.

This carousel images are a very simple breakdown of what Budget 2026 could mean for our community and why advocacy continues to matter.

At Endo Warriors Aotearoa, we will continue advocating for better education, equitable healthcare, earlier diagnosis, and stronger support systems across Aotearoa.

No one should have to navigate this alone.

#Endometriosis
#ChronicIllnessNZ
#EndoWarriorsAotearoa
#InvisibleIllness
#HealthEquity

Behind Endo Warriors Aotearoa is Yessenia Sandoval (She/They), a Wellington born wāhine of Chilean indigenous heritage who has spent over 20 years living with endometriosis, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), chronic pain, infertility, surgeries, hospital visits, and the reality of being repeatedly unheard within the healthcare system.

After years of feeling isolated and dismissed, Yessenia founded Endo Warriors Aotearoa in 2020 with one simple but powerful goal:
No one should have to face endometriosis alone.

What started from lived experience became a nationwide charity supporting people across Aotearoa through:
• Endometriosis education
• Period education workshops
• Advocacy and awareness
• Community support
• Free and low cost period products
• Safe spaces where people feel heard, believed, and supported

Yessenia is passionate about creating change not just for herself, but for future generations. Through EWA, she works to challenge stigma, push for better healthcare, improve awareness in schools and workplaces, and advocate for more equitable support for those living with endometriosis and chronic illness.

“People talk about endometriosis like it’s just a bad period. They don’t see the years of pain, the exhaustion, the infertility, the missed opportunities, the financial strain, or the trauma of constantly having to fight to be believed. This illness impacts every part of a person’s life.” — Yessenia Sandoval

Thank you for being here, supporting our kaupapa, and helping us grow this community 💛

Photo: @selfreflectionsstudio

#Endometriosis #EndoWarriorsAotearoa #ChronicIllness #EndometriosisAwareness #WellingtonNZ

Endo Warriors Aotearoa IS HIRING | Casual Community Resource Assistant

Endo Warriors Aotearoa is looking for someone to join our team for a short term casual role supporting our community mahi across Wellington.

This role involves helping organise supplies, pack period packs for schools and community organisations, assist with stocktakes, and help keep our storage space organised and running smoothly.

Hours:
• 6 hours per week for 4 weeks
• Thursdays preferred
• Hours completed between 8am and 4pm
• Some flexibility available by agreement

Pay:
• $30 per hour including holiday pay

We are looking for someone who is:
• Reliable and organised
• Comfortable with hands on practical tasks
• Able to work independently
• Passionate about community support and reducing period poverty

Tasks may include:
• Sorting and organising stock
• Packing period education resources
• Cleaning and maintaining storage spaces
• Assisting with stocktakes
• General admin operational support

This is a casual fixed term role for 4 weeks only. There may be opportunities for additional hours or extension if future funding allows.
Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand.

Applications close Friday 29/05/26 5pm.
We may begin reviewing applications earlier.

To apply, please email a short introduction about yourself, your CV and any relevant experience to:
yessenia@endowarriorsaotearoa.com

Endo Warriors Aotearoa stands firmly with all women, girls and people assigned female at birth living with endometriosis, adenomyosis, PMOS, menstrual disorders and reproductive health conditions.

We are deeply concerned by the proposed Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill.

For many in our community, healthcare systems are already difficult, traumatising and exclusionary. Trans, non binary and gender diverse people already face significant barriers when trying to access safe reproductive and menstrual healthcare. Bills like this risk making that even worse.

Endometriosis and reproductive health conditions do not discriminate based on gender identity.

People who menstruate and live with Endometriosis and other health conditions deserve dignity, safety and access to healthcare without fear of discrimination, political point scoring or being erased from conversations about their own bodies.

This bill feels like a step backwards at a time when Aotearoa should be focused on improving healthcare access, reducing harm and supporting vulnerable communities, not creating further division.

We know what it feels like to not be believed.
To have your pain minimised.
To be told your lived experience does not matter.

That is why we refuse to stay silent when legislation risks causing further harm to already marginalised people.

At Endo Warriors Aotearoa, we will continue advocating for inclusive, evidence based and compassionate healthcare for everyone in our community.

Because healthcare should never depend on whether politicians approve of your identity.

#endometriosis
#TransRightsAreHumanRights
#InclusiveHealthcare
#ProtectTransYouth
#EndoWarriorsAotearoa

Those with endometriosis become experts at pretending they are okay.

Smiling through pain.
Showing up exhausted.
Saying “I’m fine” because explaining it feels harder.

Just because someone looks okay on the outside does not mean they are not struggling.

What many people do not see is what happens after.

The pain relief that barely touches it.
The heating pads that never fully cool down.
The meals skipped because the nausea is too much.
The tears from pure exhaustion.
The cancelled plans.
The guilt.
The isolation.
The days spent trying to recover from simply surviving.

People see the few hours you pushed through.
They do not see the price your body paid for it after.

Endometriosis is more than “bad periods”.
It can impact every part of a person’s life physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and financially.

Be gentle with people fighting battles you cannot see.

#Endometriosis #InvisibleIllness #ChronicPain #EndoAwareness #EndoWarriorsAotearoa

People often hear words like “mild degeneration” or “mild arthrosis” on imaging reports and assume the pain must also be mild. But that is not how chronic pain or endometriosis works.

Recently my spinal and pelvic imaging showed: • Degenerative spinal changes • SI joint arthrosis • Facet arthrosis • Pubic symphysis arthrosis • Ongoing postural changes

Yet the reality behind those “mild” findings is: • Struggling to walk for more than 20 minutes • Taking stairs one at a time • Difficulty standing, dressing, and some days managing basic daily tasks • Ongoing pelvic pain, spinal pain, headaches, stiffness, and sharp pain flares • Increased reliance on mobility aids • Limiting leaving the house because of pain and fatigue

Endometriosis does not just affect reproductive organs. It can affect the pelvic floor, muscles, posture, walking patterns, nervous system, and overall mobility.

Long term pain changes the way the body protects itself. Over time this can lead to widespread musculoskeletal pain and functional decline, even when imaging findings are described as “mild”.

Pain is not measured by an X-ray alone.
These findings also add another layer to the reality of chronic illness management. More appointments. More specialists. More rehabilitation. More treatments to try and improve function, stability, pain levels, and quality of life.

This is why we need more understanding of the full body impact of endometriosis and persistent pain conditions.
#Endometriosis #ChronicPain #PersistentPain #InvisibleIllness #EndoWarriorsAotearoa

Sometimes those with endometriosis get so used to being in pain that we start downplaying it, joking about it, or acting like it’s “not that bad”.

Not because it doesn’t hurt.
But because we’ve had to learn how to survive it.

For many with endometriosis, pain becomes so constant that you stop reacting to it the way other people expect you to. You still go to work. You still study. You still show up for people. You still try to function while your body is screaming at you.

Over time, you learn to minimise your own suffering because if you stopped every single time the pain hit, you would never be able to live your life.

The reality is many with endometriosis are functioning through pain levels that would stop most people in their tracks. That is not strength. That is survival.

Being “used to it” does not mean it’s normal.
And functioning through severe pain every day should never be the expectation.

Those with endometriosis deserve earlier diagnosis, better treatment options, access to multidisciplinary care, pain management, financial support, workplace and education understanding, and healthcare systems that take this disease seriously.

We should not have to become experts at surviving unbearable pain just to be believed.

Things need to change.

#Endometriosis #ChronicIllness #EndometriosisAwareness #InvisibleIllness #endowarrior

Living with endometriosis can feel incredibly isolating.

One of the hardest parts is lying in bed during a flare, knowing the world keeps moving while your body forces you to stop. It can leave you feeling guilty, lazy, or like you should be doing more.

But resting during a flare is not weakness.

With endometriosis, pushing through pain and exhaustion often comes at a cost. Many people end up paying for it later with increased pain, fatigue, burnout, or days of recovery.

Sometimes staying in bed is not “giving up”.
Sometimes it is your body trying to protect you the best way it can.

You do not have to earn rest.
You are allowed to slow down.
You are allowed to listen to your body.

#Endometriosis #ChronicIllness #EndoWarriorsAotearoa #InvisibleIllness #EndoAwareness

Did you know Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is increasingly being discussed under a new name: PMOS, PolyMetabolic Ovary Syndrome?

The reason behind this shift is actually really important. For years, the term “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome” has been considered misleading by many experts because:
• Not everyone with PCOS has ovarian cysts
• The condition affects far more than just the ovaries
• The name fails to reflect the major metabolic and hormonal components of the condition
Research has shown that PCOS is strongly linked to:
Insulin resistance
Chronic inflammation
Hormonal imbalance
Increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Cardiovascular risk factors
Fertility and ovulation issues

As medical understanding evolved, many researchers and clinicians felt the old name no longer matched the science.
That’s where “PMOS” comes in.
PolyMetabolic Ovary Syndrome better reflects that this is a whole-body metabolic and endocrine condition, not simply an “ovary problem.”

Why does that matter?
Because names influence:
• How conditions are diagnosed
• How seriously symptoms are taken
• How treatment is approached
• How patients understand their own health
For many, the old terminology led to confusion, delayed diagnosis, or feeling dismissed, especially if they didn’t have visible ovarian cysts.

It’s important to note:
“PCOS” is still currently the most widely used and officially recognised medical term. PMOS is part of an ongoing discussion aimed at creating terminology that better reflects current science and patient experience.
Medicine evolves. Language evolves. And understanding this illness more accurately matters.

#PCOS #PMOS #PolycysticOvarySyndrome #HormoneHealth #InsulinResistance

People often think endometriosis only affects you during your period, but for many of us, the pain follows us into every part of daily life, including sleep.

Pelvic pain, bloating, back pain, hip pain, bladder symptoms, nerve pain, fatigue, and inflammation can make something as basic as resting feel impossible some nights.

Sleep disruption is incredibly common with endometriosis and chronic illness, yet it is rarely talked about enough.

If this feels familiar, you are not alone.
Your pain is real, even in the quiet moments no one else sees.

#endometriosis #chronicpain #endowarriorsaotearoa #womenshealth #aotearoa

The idea that the birth control pill “cures” endometriosis is a myth.

Endometriosis is a chronic and complex condition. There is currently no known cure, and no single treatment works for everyone.

The birth control pill is often prescribed to help manage symptoms. For some people, it can help regulate the menstrual cycle, reduce bleeding, and lessen pain and inflammation linked to endometriosis.

But the pill does not make endometriosis disappear.

Hormonal treatments help manage symptoms while they are being used. When treatment stops, symptoms may return for some people.

It is also important to remember that endometriosis can affect more than periods alone. It can impact the bowel, bladder, fatigue levels, mental health, daily functioning, relationships, work, study, and fertility.

Treatment for endometriosis should be individualised. What helps one person may not help another.

People living with endometriosis deserve informed care, accurate information, and access to a range of treatment and support options.

#Endometriosis #EndoWarriorsAotearoa #EndoAwareness #ChronicIllness #aotearoa

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow us on Instagram

@endowarriorsaotearoa

Endo Warriors
Aotearoa

We provide education, advocacy, practical support, and community connection to empower people to better understand their health, access support, and know they are not alone.

Im lookong for ....

Welcome to Endo Warriors Aotearoa

Supporting menstrual health, endometriosis awareness, and period equity across Aotearoa.

What is Endometriosis?

Our Programmes