Why the ‘endometriosis pill’ news just felt like more medical gaslighting
Headlines about “breakthroughs” can make people think endometriosis is solved. And it's just not.
By Holly Francis; data, research and education leader at The Female Lead
You know that little jolt of hope you get when you see a headline that feels like finally something might be changing? That happened to me recently.
For the first time since being diagnosed with endometriosis at 26, (I’m now 31) the news actually felt positive. There it was, from a UK newspaper: “‘First-of-a-kind’ daily pill for endometriosis treatment approved".
I started getting messages from my friends and family like: ‘Have you seen this?!’, ‘Omg, good news!!’ My heart did a little leap.
I clicked a link, devouring every word about this new pill, scanning for the only thing that really mattered to me: what is this magical new treatment, and how soon can I get my hands on it?
As usual, reality hit hard.
The thing about having endo is, it often comes with a healthy dose of gaslighting. I’ll never forget going to my doctor in my early twenties, desperate for pain relief, and being told that maybe I should try getting pregnant, because apparently that might ‘cure’ me. (I didn’t try this, but spoiler: it doesn't.) Or the time I waited weeks to see a pain specialist, only for them to suggest that because I was being treated for depression, maybe my pain wasn’t even real and could all just be in my head.
Sadly, I’m not alone in these experiences. Studies like this, from Manchester Metropolitan University, show that women with endometriosis are being ‘medically gaslit’ and feel dismissed, disempowered and demotivated.
Reading about this new pill felt… a bit like that. The hype, the hope, then the crushing disappointment. Because surprise! It’s not for me. It’s only for a small group of women who’ve tried everything else, including multiple rounds of surgery.
Right now, surgery is still considered the ‘gold standard’ for treating endometriosis (note: treating, not curing). Endometriosis happens when tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts growing where it shouldn’t, outside the uterus, on organs and nerves. The surgery, called a laparoscopy, is currently the only real option we have to physically remove this rogue tissue. The problem is, it often grows back, so many women end up having repeat surgeries, sometimes for most of their reproductive lives.
I’ve signed the surgery waiver myself; the one that gives doctors permission to remove parts of my uterus if they find endometriosis too deep. I don’t have children yet. The risks that come with surgery aren’t small, they can be life-changing. Not everyone with endo is willing to take that gamble and honestly, I don’t blame them.
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Plus, what a lot of the articles don’t mention is how the new pill actually works. It puts your body into a synthetic menopause. I already struggle with standard hormone treatments, so something even more intense? No thanks. I’ll face the real menopause when it arrives. I’m not volunteering for it early.
However, I do want to celebrate progress. Any step forward is something when Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and has been proven to be one of the most painful conditions a human can experience. New treatments matter. But I worry that headlines about “breakthroughs” can also make people think “Oh, cool, endometriosis is sorted now.” And it’s just not.
But there is incredible research happening. Scientists are finally starting to look into the actual causes of endo, not just how to mask the pain. They’re studying things like its connection to the immune system, and how stem cells and research into inflamed cells might offer alternatives to hormone-based treatments.
Those are the kinds of stories I want flooding my inbox.
Because while I’m desperate to live without pain, I also believe in a future where we don’t have to sacrifice our fertility, our hormones or our sanity just to feel okay.
