Period Pain: Is Your Pain Being Taken Seriously? It Should Be. Says Gynaecologist Dr Praveen De Silva

This is where the period pain conversation gets real.

In the first episode of our Period Pain Mini-Series, Kat sits down with Dr Praveen De Silva, a New Zealand-born gynaecologist, endometriosis surgeon, and Clinical Lead for Endometriosis and Laparoscopic Surgery at Te Whatu Ora Waitemata. He was also the name our community called out overwhelmingly when we asked who they wanted to hear from on this topic. And after this conversation, it's easy to see why.

Dr Praveen opens up about his own journey into women's health, from a passion for obstetrics to completing a two-year fellowship at the world-leading Sydney Women's Endosurgery Centre, and why period pain became the area he chose to dedicate his career to.

Together, we unpack one of the most important distinctions in women's health: period pain is common, but significant period pain is not normal.

Dr Praveen walks us through what that actually means, what's happening in the body during a painful period, and at what point symptoms cross the line from manageable to something that deserves medical attention.

We also get into the reality of navigating the New Zealand health system with period pain, the delays, the frustration, and what self-advocacy actually looks like in both the public and private sectors. Dr Praveen shares what a specialist appointment looks like from his side of the table, why he approaches each patient as a collaborative brainstorm rather than a one-size-fits-all prescription, and why he'll be the first to admit he doesn't have all the answers.

From pain medication and hormonal contraception to the multidisciplinary team approach, surgery, and the long-overdue shift toward diagnosing endometriosis without requiring an operation first, this conversation covers the full picture. Including the stat that still stops us in our tracks: it takes an average of seven to eight years to receive an endometriosis diagnosis in New Zealand.

If you are pushing through period pain and wondering whether what you're experiencing is normal, this episode is for you. Part one of five in this deep dive into period pain. All episodes of the mini-series are available now.

Find Dr Praveen De Silva at Auckland Gynaecology Group in Newmarket, Waitemata Surgeons in Takapuna, and in Whangārei. Online consultations available from anywhere in New Zealand.

Website: drpraveendesilva.com

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