Endometriosis is a whole-body disease, a dynamic disability, and has been found on every major organ in the body—including (but not limited to) the lungs, diaphragm, bowels, bladder, and even the brain. It is not just a period disease or a condition that only affects the uterus. 

It affects 1 in 7 people assigned female at birth, according to Endometriosis Australia. However, endo knows no gender, and this statistic needs refining—more research is urgently needed to understand how endometriosis affects all genders.

The NHS has listed endometriosis as being one of the top 20 most painful conditions. It spreads like cancer, fuses organs together, causes chronic pain, infertility, organ dysfunction, extreme fatigue, severe inflammation, and so much more, yet it takes an average of approximately 7 years to receive a diagnosis (personally it took me 11 years of medical gaslighting before finally receiving a diagnosis) Why? Because people (like Marty Sheargold) don’t take it seriously.

Recently, former Triple M host Marty Sheargold made the dangerous and dismissive comment:
"God, don’t ladies carry on? Jesus Christ, there is no end of it. Honestly, endometriosis—it’s made up."

His co-hosts, Troy Ellis and Will Ralston, laughed along instead of speaking up, failing to advocate for the millions suffering from this disease worldwide. Even a simple, polite comment would have been appropriate—something to let listeners know that dismissing a debilitating disease is not okay.

For example, instead of laughing, they could have said:

💛 “Well, let’s hear a woman’s perspective on this?”

💛 “Marty, why do you think that? What do you actually know about endometriosis?”

💛 “You’re using a woman’s heat pack right now, maybe ask her what it’s like?”

💛 “I think a lot of people with endo would probably say it’s very real…”

💛 “Mate, some people with endo can’t even work because of the pain—it’s a huge issue.”

These are not confrontational statements, but they would have subtly challenged the dismissal and given space for a real conversation, especially given that March is endometriosis awareness month.

Instead, they laughed. And that silence? That was complicity.

This statement is harmful, false, and invalidating to the millions suffering from endometriosis worldwide. Despite "agreeing to part ways" for his sexist remarks about the Matildas, he has NOT been held accountable for dismissing endometriosis—and that is unacceptable.

We, the endometriosis community and our allies, demand a public apology from Marty Sheargold and Triple M.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month—the perfect time to correct this harmful narrative. We will not be ignored.

Sign and share this petition to demand accountability and respect for those suffering from endometriosis!