Exhausting sick leave, forking out for private medical procedures and being told outdated information by health professionals are just some of the ongoing challenges that women with endometriosis face.
Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease, with symptoms including period and pelvic pain, subfertility and infertility.
Despite the disease estimated to affect one in 10 women and those assigned female at birth, it takes eight years on average to be diagnosed and there is no cure.
RNZ's Charlie Dreaver has spoken to sufferers of endometriosis about the impact the disease has on their lives and the experts who are pushing for a national action plan.
She filed this report with videographer Cole Eastham-Farrelly as part of the In-Depth project "The Deadline".
