Bridget Hustwaite suffered six years of intense abdominal pain before she was diagnosed with stage four endometriosis in August 2018.
Since early adolescence, the Endometriosis Australia Ambassador and triple j broadcaster was plagued by heavy bleeding, nausea, fatigue and cramping associated with her period.
When Bridget was finally diagnosed, endometriosis was found across her bladder, rectum, bowel and pelvic side walls. Despite this, she felt relieved she finally had a diagnosis.
“We need faster diagnosis, better treatments and more education and awareness about endometriosis. The fact this research is being funded is a step in the right direction,” she said.
About 176 million women worldwide have endometriosis. The condition occurs when cells from the endometrium grow in other areas of the body, including the pelvic cavity, forming lesions on organs such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
In 2019, Professor Caroline Gargett received a three-year, $US2.07 million ($AU3.05 million) grant from the US Department of Defense and a $2 million NHMRC Investigator Grant to further investigate the cause of this debilitating condition.
