A DIFFERENT KIND OF ‘SEXUAL’ HEALTH: ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS
Words by Monqtuya Snary (they/them) and Cileme Venkateswar (she/her)
Conversations around sex go beyond navigating consent and exploring sexuality. A plethora of reproductive health issues are often swept under the rug, hidden by the taboos of discussing sex and reproductive-related conditions publicly.
Endometriosis (colloquially referred to as ‘endo’) is a condition where similar cells to those that line the uterus are found in other parts of the abdomen, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowels, and bladder. This causes inflammation during menstruation and exacerbation of already uncomfortable symptoms to the point of excruciating pain. Pelvic and lower back pain, bowel issues, bloating, abnormal bleeding, and fertility issues barely scratch the surface of the debilitating experience of living with endometriosis.
The frustrating misconception that painful periods are a ‘rite of passage’ allows conditions like endo to often go unrecognised and untreated. Endometriosis affects roughly 1 in 10 people assigned female at birth. Yet it can take around 6 years to be diagnosed, requiring surgery to do so.
Your ability to study and succeed at university is in no way unrelated to your life outside of uni, or health and wellbeing issues that may affect your day-to-day life. Whether you have a diagnosis, are waiting for one, or suspect you may have endometriosis, the university has a couple of key services to help manage where you may be in your endo experience.
While you’ll probably become more familiar with them as flu season rears its ugly head, Mauri Ora—Student Health (down in the Student Union basement) are available to discuss your situation on a case-by-case basis. GPs are able to act as a central point through which you can be prescribed pain medication, or referred to other services that target pain management, such as gynaecologists, health coaches to aid nutrition and sleep, counselling, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and acupressure.
Te Amaru—Disability Services tailors their support to meet each student’s needs. The unpredictability of living with endometriosis—whether because of the chronic pain, the wait-time required receiving a diagnosis, and the continued lack of awareness regarding long-term treatment—can wreak havoc on uni life and studies. Disability Services advocates for the flexibility you may need within your courses. They help you develop an Education Access Plan that can be shared with course coordinators, advise on managing workloads, liaise with lecturers to help reschedule assignments, and provide access to restrooms.
While they act as an important link between university teaching staff and your health and wellbeing advocacy, Disability Services also maintains the same agreements of confidentiality as your GP or counsellor. Your lecturers and course coordinators will never know more than you want them to about your difficulties with endo.
These services being laid out on a piece of paper is very different from actually tackling them head on in your life, so Manawa Ora’s Endometriosis Awareness campaign will be running throughout the year. Swing by Level 2 in the Student Union building to have a chat with us, or keep an eye out for other events, fundraisers, and competitions.
Website: wgtn.ac.nz/wellbeing
Instagram: @manawaorastudentwellbeing
Facebook: Manawa Ora Wgtn Uni