To provide a safe place for women/people assigned female at birth with persistent pelvic pain to feel validated and listened to.
To provide specialised, multidisciplinary advice and best practice care to patients, with a focus on the biopsychosocial approach to pelvic pain and endometriosis
To work collaboratively with our clients to create individualised plans, empowering them with knowledge and practical tools to help manage their symptoms
To provide opportunities for group learning, allowing people to feel less alone in their journey and create connection and community
At Kardinia Health Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Clinic, we emphasise a multidisciplinary, biopsychosocial approach as the most effective way to address an individual’s pain experience. This means using a range of healthcare professionals who not only assess the biological (physical) factors, including conditions like endometriosis, but also consider the psychological and social factors that influence a person’s symptoms.
Persistent (chronic) pelvic pain is common, affecting 15-25% of Australian women/people assigned female at birth, yet it has historically been poorly understood and managed. Persistent pelvic pain is defined as recurrent pain in the pelvis (the area below the belly button and between the hips) for more than six months.
Endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory condition where cells similar to those that line the uterus are found outside the uterus (most commonly in the pelvis). Endometriosis is a widely recognised factor in persistent pelvic pain, but is often just one part of the picture, so a holistic approach to care is required.
Not all people with persistent pelvic pain will have endometriosis, and not all people with endometriosis will have persistent pain, so individualised assessment and advice is recommended.
To address these complex conditions, the Federal Government committed to 3 years of funding (until mid 2026) for 22 primary care clinics around Australia, to support multidisciplinary care with a focus on promoting early access to intervention, care, treatment options, and referral services for endometriosis and pelvic pain.