New research reveals mental health toll of endometriosis and PMOS

by Simran Gill, George Institute for Global Health

edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

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Nearly 1 in 2 women with endometriosis or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) report depression, according to new national research, prompting calls for mental health support to be integrated into women's physical health care.

Women's Mental Health Australia's Beyond the Surface 2026 report found that more than half (56%) of Australian women are experiencing mental health issues in 2026, including 1 in 4 (25%) likely to be experiencing severe psychological distress. The key findings indicate that physical health conditions are associated with poorer mental health, but the greatest psychological impact is experienced by women living with female-specific physical health conditions.

Among women with endometriosis, 48% reported depression and 47% reported anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder. Among women with PMOS 47% reported depression and 39% reported anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder. These rates of depression and anxiety are between 1.6 and 2.2 times higher compared to women who do not have endometriosis or PMOS. The findings are based on a nationally representative research study comprising of 9,000 Australian women aged 18 and over, conducted across all states and regions in April 2026.

The report underscores the urgent need for a more integrated model of care, which is nationally consistent and standardized, where women receive mental health assessment and support as part of the treatment of their physical health condition, rather than having to navigate separate and disconnected services.

Women's Mental Health Australia Chief Operating Officer Katrina Locandro said the findings highlighted the gaps in our current approach to women's health.

"Women's physical and mental health issues are not experienced independently, so our health system needs to adapt instead of maintaining the status quo," Locandro said. "Women deserve integrated models of care, where mental health assessment and psychological support become a standardized component of women's health services, including endometriosis, pelvic pain, menopause, fertility and pelvic floor care."

Women's Mental Health Australia calls for every woman attending a government-funded Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic to receive integrated mental health assessment and support as part of their care.

Report co-author Dr. Jodie Pestana, a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Psychology at UNSW, said the data showed health professionals needed to recognize and respond to the full mental health burden of female-specific conditions.

"The research uncovered that conditions like endometriosis and PMOS double or triple the risk for women to experience mental health issues like PTSD, body image distress, and self-harm. Health professionals need to be educated on the increased risks so they can adequately care for women."

The disparity also extended to suicide and self-harm rates, reported by 10% of women with PMOS and 13% of women with endometriosis, compared with 4% of women across the full sample.

Report co-author Professor Bronwyn Graham, Director of the Center for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine, said embedding integrated mental health assessment and support into existing services was a practical and achievable next step.

"Women are being asked to manage two separate journeys, one for their body and one for their mind, and to find their own way between them at the point they are least able to," Professor Graham said.

"The solution isn't building an entirely new system—we simply need to strengthen existing ones by embedding routine mental health assessments, training clinicians, and creating clear referral pathways within services women already attend, such as government-funded Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics."

The following mental health issues were more common in women with endometriosis compared with the overall sample:

• 43% reported body image issues, 2.2 times higher
• 22% reported obsessive-compulsive disorder, 3.1 times higher
• 22% reported ADHD, 3.1 times higher
• 21% reported post-traumatic stress disorder, 2.3 times higher
• 13% reported suicide or self-harm, 3.3 times higher
• 12% reported autism spectrum disorder, four times higher

The following mental health issues were more common in women with PMOS compared with the overall sample:

• 40% reported body image issues, two times higher
• 22% reported post-traumatic stress disorder, 2.4 times higher
• 18% reported ADHD, 2.6 times higher
• 14% reported binge eating disorder, 2.8 times higher
• 10% reported suicide or self-harm, 2.5 times higher

While rates of help-seeking increased in 2026, 1 in 3 women are still not seeking help for their mental health issues. The reasons range from believing they could self-manage (32%) to financial cost (31%) to not considering their mental health issues serious enough to warrant support (29%). Stigma and access also remained obstacles, with 19% feeling embarrassed or ashamed, 16% fearing judgment, 14% finding services difficult to access and 13% facing excessive wait times.

The prevalence and severity of mental health issues among Australian women have remained broadly unchanged since Women's Mental Health Australia began measuring these outcomes in 2022.

More information

Report: Beyond the Surface 2026: Investigating the Mental Health Realities for Australian Women

Key medical concepts

Endometriosis

Clinical categories

PsychiatryWomen's healthPsychology & Mental healthObstetrics & gynecology Provided by George Institute for Global Health Who's behind this story?

Lisa Lock

BA art history, MA material culture. Former museum editor, paramedic, and transplant coordinator. Editing for Science X since 2021. Full profile →

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Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

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