{
  "id": 9836414,
  "title": "Push to stop girls having to suffer pelvic pain in silence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/push-to-stop-girls-having-to-suffer-pelvic-pain-in-silence",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-25T21:06:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-26/calls-for-specialist-endometriosis-education-in-nsw-high-schools/107084228"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A NSW politician has launched a petition to fund high school education on endometriosis, aiming to stop young girls from suffering in silence. Endometriosis affects one in seven Australian girls and women, causing severe pelvic pain at a time when teenagers are already dealing with bodily changes and hormonal fluctuations. Polly Levinson has been delivering the Periods, Pain and Endometriosis Program (PPEP) Talk program to students across various schools for nearly four years, helping them understand pelvic pain. However, Australian teachers often feel uncomfortable discussing puberty and menstruation, as it goes beyond biological processes. Levinson believes that students would feel more comfortable with female educators discussing the condition. The NSW Department of Education plans to launch a pelvic health and endometriosis education program next year, but MP Helen Dalton argues that the PPEP Talk program should be expanded to include public high schools. Female educators, familiar with women's health issues, are better equipped to discuss endometriosis, according to Dalton. A study found that some teachers lacked confidence in teaching puberty and menstruation due to personal discomfort. Clinical educators have successfully identified congenital conditions through conversations with students after the classes. Trudi Beck, who co-founded an endometriosis clinic, highlights that young women often tolerate their pain silently, leading to missed school days due to heavy periods and iron deficiency. Early awareness could prevent long-term health issues, particularly important in regional areas with limited support access.",
  "summary": "Advocates are calling for specialist endometriosis education in NSW public schools to make it less awkward for students and teachers to discuss the condition.",
  "key_points": [
    "NSW politician launches petition to fund endometriosis education in high schools.",
    "Endometriosis affects one in seven Australian girls and women, causing severe pelvic pain.",
    "Female educators better equipped to discuss endometriosis compared to male teachers."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}