Finding support with Endo Warriors Aotearoa

Living with endometriosis can feel isolating. For many in Aotearoa, the journey to diagnosis is long, the pain is minimised, and support can feel hard to find. At Endo Warriors Aotearoa, our kaupapa is simple. No one should have to navigate this alone.

Endo Warriors Aotearoa is a lived experience led charity supporting people with endometriosis and those who menstruate across Aotearoa. We provide education, advocacy, practical support, and community connection.

If you are looking for support, here is how we can help.

Meet the founder
Endo Warriors Aotearoa was founded by Yessenia Sandoval, a wāhine of Chilean indigenous heritage born in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, who has lived with endometriosis, PCOS, infertility and chronic pain for over two decades. After years of painful symptoms being dismissed as “just bad periods”, feeling unheard, and navigating a system that didn’t see her whole body experience, Yessenia decided to create something different: a community of support rooted in lived experience where people are believed, supported and connected.

Yessenia often says:

“Endometriosis is not just painful periods. It is a whole body illness that affects every part of someone’s life, from chronic pain and exhaustion, to mental health and daily activities. People need support that sees the whole person, not just the symptoms.” 

Part of her mission is education, especially in communities and schools, so rangatahi learn the difference between menstrual health and endometriosis early on. Through free workshops and kōrero, she teaches that endometriosis is not a normal period, and that understanding bodies and symptoms can empower young people to seek help and advocate for themselves with confidence.

Education and resources
We believe knowledge is power. We provide:

• Easy to understand information about endometriosis
• Menstrual health and endometriosis education in schools
• Community workshops both online and in person
• Social media education and awareness content
• Our goal is to ensure rangatahi and adults alike understand what is normal, what is not, and when to seek medical support.

You can explore our resources here: www.endowarriorsaotearoa.com

Community and connection
Endometriosis can impact every part of life. Many people tell us the hardest part is not being believed. We create safe spaces for people to connect, share stories, and feel heard. This includes:

• Community events during Endometriosis Awareness Month
• Online workshops and kōrero sessions
• Creative and wellbeing based gatherings
• Opportunities to share lived experiences through projects like Now You See Me

Connection matters. Whanaungatanga matters.

Practical support
Through community donations, partnerships, and lived experience led initiatives, we provide practical, compassionate support to individuals, whānau, and organisations across Aotearoa.

This includes:

• Information packs and educational materials
• Referrals and guidance on navigating health, education, and workplace systems
• Support letters to help with school, work, welfare or healthcare accommodations
• Peer connection and community spaces where people can talk with others who understand
• Free and low cost workshops that help people understand their bodies and manage symptoms

We know endometriosis is a whole body illness that affects pain, energy levels, mood, fertility, daily functioning, and quality of life, not just menstrual bleeding. That is why our support covers more than one kind of need.

While we are a small charity and cannot meet every need, we do our best to support individuals and organisations where we can, and to ensure people feel heard, believed, and connected – physically, emotionally, and socially.

Advocacy and guideline review
Support is not just about today. It is about systemic change.

In 2025, Endo Warriors Aotearoa led a national petition calling for a review of New Zealand’s endometriosis clinical guidelines. The petition called for:

• A full review and update of the national guidelines
• An end to postcode based referral refusals
• Clearer pathways for diagnosis and treatment
• Improved education for health professionals
• Equitable access to care across Aotearoa

The petition has now been formally handed in to Parliament. This is an important step toward change, but it is not the end of the journey. We continue to advocate for consistent, evidence based, equitable care that recognises endometriosis as the complex, whole body illness that it is.

You can read more about our advocacy work here: Petition for Change | EWA

Read our full Endometriosis Guidelines Review here 

How to reach out
If you are newly diagnosed, waiting for answers, supporting someone you love, or simply looking for community, we are here.

Visit our website to find upcoming workshops, events, resources, and ways to connect: Online, Instagram, or email Endo Warriors Aotearoa EWA

You are not alone.
He waka eke noa.