From pain to progress: a new approach to endometriosis care
20 Aug 2025
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting approximately one in nine Australian women, often resulting in debilitating pelvic pain, fatigue, infertility, and mental health impacts such as depression and anxiety
The condition significantly impairs quality of life and carries broad social, public health, and economic consequences, including lost productivity, increased health care utilisation, and reduced workforce participation.
While early-stage endometriosis can be managed in most hospitals, timely access to multidisciplinary care for complex or advanced endometriosis remains critically limited, particularly in Western Australia.
Many complex cases involve deep infiltrating disease, affecting multiple organs such as the bowel, bladder, and pelvic nerves, requiring coordinated treatment from multiple surgical and non-surgical specialties.
Establishing the service
In response to this gap, an advanced surgical endometriosis service has been established by Midland Gynaecology, operating in collaboration with St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals.
Over the past 24 months, this service has transformed care for women with advanced disease through its holistic, patient-centred approach.
Our service model includes:
- a dedicated joint gynaecology–colorectal outpatient clinic
- collaborative surgeries conducted via combined theatre sessions
- an integrated multidisciplinary team to address all facets of patient health, including:
- gynaecologist with advanced laparoscopic expertise
- consultant colorectal surgeon
- pain specialist anaesthetist
- clinical psychologist
- pelvic physiotherapist
- dietitian.
This integrated model ensures seamless care — from diagnosis and surgical planning to intervention and long-term follow-up.
Service impact and achievements
- Over 30 complex joint gynaecology–colorectal surgeries have been completed to date, with high patient satisfaction and excellent outcomes.
- Waiting times for private advanced surgery has been reduced to less than two months, compared to national averages exceeding two years.
- Enhanced access has led to:
- earlier diagnosis
- fewer emergency presentations
- improved return-to-work rates and functional recovery
- improved patient-reported quality of life.
Expanding public access: meeting community demand
Despite the success of the private service, demand in the public sector remains high, with many patients still waiting years for surgical treatment.
In the past 12 months, we have been working to expand the public arm of the service.
Midland Gynaecology private rooms
The advanced surgical endometriosis service in Midland Gynaecology represents a significant step forward in addressing a historically underserved area of women’s health in Western Australia.
While our private service has delivered excellent outcomes for patients, expanding and sustaining the public component is crucial to achieving equity and timely access for all women — regardless of socioeconomic status.
With continued support, this service can serve as a model of integrated care, ensuring no woman with complex endometriosis is left waiting years for the treatment she urgently needs.
Referrals
The endometriosis service is available through both public and private referral pathways at St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals.
For more information on the service’s gynaecology team, please visit their specialist profiles:
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