Endometriosis – the cost of misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery

If you've ever searched "endometriosis surgery gone wrong" or found yourself scrolling through forums where women describe pain worse after surgery than before, you're not alone. And you're not overreacting.

Across Australia, a concerning pattern is emerging. Too many women are undergoing endometriosis surgery performed by surgeons who lack the specialist expertise this complex condition requires. The result? Preventable complications, delayed diagnosis, worsening pain, and sometimes permanent injury. When this occurs, it may be medical negligence. And if it has happened to you, you have the right to seek answers, accountability and support.

These stories matter. They highlight just how much is at stake when endometriosis isn’t treated with the skill, care and urgency it deserves.

What is endometriosis, and why is it so often mishandled?

Endometriosis affects one in seven Australian women. It's a chronic condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often causing debilitating pelvic pain, fertility-related problems, chronic fatigue and complications with bowel and bladder function.

Despite how common it is, diagnosis can typically take six to eight years. During this time, many women are misdiagnosed, dismissed, or sent to undergo invasive procedures, including surgery, that could have been avoided with proper investigation.

The impact is enormous. Endometriosis can affect work, exercise, social life, fertility and overall quality of life. This gap between what women need and what they receive is where medical negligence can occur. 

Why are medical practitioners still ignoring women’s pain?

In the 2025 Inquiry into Women’s Pain (the first of its kind in Australia), over 13,000 Victorian women, gender-diverse people, carers and clinicians shared their lived experiences.

Key findings include:

• 90% of respondents reported experiencing pain that lasted longer than a year
• 54% said they lived with pain every day
• 89% reported that their pain affected their mental health
• 44% said their pain affected their work, studies or volunteering

These alarming statistics highlight the reality women with endometriosis face: their pain is real, persistent, and too often ignored.

When endometriosis care falls below the standard of care

Not every complication is negligence, but certain failures are clear indicators that the standard of care may not have been met. These include:

1. Non-specialist surgeons handling complex cases
   Complex or deep infiltrating endometriosis affecting organs such as the bowel, bladder or ureters should only be treated by an accredited specialist. When general gynaecologists operate on these cases, the result can include missed disease, avoidable organ damage, perforation, or preventable loss of fertility.
2. Inadequate pre-operative assessment
   Before surgery, specialist imaging of the bowel, ureters, and kidneys is crucial. Without it, complications such as undetected kidney damage or incomplete surgery are more likely.
3. Overly aggressive or inappropriate treatment
   Endometriosis surgery must balance removing the disease with protecting fertility and ovarian function. Some women experience unnecessary removal of ovarian tissue or aggressive techniques that reduce ovarian reserve, often without informed discussion of the risks.

Women’s pain is real, and it deserves proper care

Despite the prevalence and severity of symptoms, women’s pain is frequently minimised or dismissed. The Women’s Pain Inquiry highlighted common phrases women hear from medical professionals:

"It's just period pain." "Most women have cramps." "Just soldier on."

These comments can do real harm. They delay diagnosis, exacerbate symptoms, and leave women feeling ignored and invalidated.

When severe pain, bowel or bladder issues, or chronic fatigue is ignored, it’s not just a medical concern but may also have legal implications. If your symptoms prevent you from working, exercising, or living a normal life, they deserve proper investigation and action.

Our specialist medical negligence lawyers can help you understand your legal options and guide you through the process so that you can focus on your recovery.

Signs your endometriosis surgery may have been negligent

An endometriosis misdiagnosis can be devastating, sometimes leading to irreversible consequences. Not every complication is negligence, but some outcomes are clearly avoidable and may amount to a breach of duty of care.

You should seek advice if:

• your surgeon did not have specialist endometriosis training
• recommended pre-operative imaging was not completed
• risks such as bowel perforation, ovarian damage or fertility loss were not fully explained
• your pain is now worse than before surgery
• new symptoms appeared that were dismissed or not properly investigated
• signs of infection or perforation were not followed up with imaging
• fertility-related risks were not discussed, despite your wishes

If you’re unsure whether what you experienced was negligence, a specialist medical negligence lawyer can help you assess what happened.

What to do now if you're concerned about your endometriosis surgery

1. Request your medical records: You are legally entitled to imaging reports, operative notes, pathology results, and post-op assessment records.
2. Seek a second opinion: A true endometriosis specialist can review what occurred and identify whether the care you received was appropriate.
3. Ask yourself: Was my surgery performed by a specialist? Was my pre-operative imaging adequate? Were risks explained clearly? Is my pain better or worse? Were complications appropriately handled?
4. Document your symptoms and recovery: Keep a record of your symptoms, complications, follow-up appointments, and additional treatment. This becomes evidence if it is required later.
5. Speak to a medical negligence lawyer: You don’t need to be 100% certain that negligence occurred. If you’re unsure, we can help you understand your rights, assess the actions taken, and explain your legal options.

How we can help

Many women assume post-surgical complications are just part of the process. They're not, at least, not always.

If complications occurred because your surgery was performed negligently, you may be entitled to compensation for:

1. revision surgery and the cost of correcting the error
2. loss of fertility if the harm was preventable
3. pain and suffering, including both physical and emotional impact
4. lost income if complications or prolonged recovery affected your ability to work
5. ongoing medical care required as a result of negligent treatment

Time limits matter. In most Australian states, you have three years from the date you knew (or reasonably should have known) that your injury was caused by negligence.

If your endometriosis surgery went wrong, contact our experienced medical negligence team for confidential, compassionate legal advice. We’re here to guide you through your options and advocate for the justice you deserve. You are not alone.