The Silent (Productivity) KillerI clutched a blue medical glove filled with hot water against my abdomen, a makeshift comfort. The agony caused by my period pains was debilitating: moving, talking, or even thinking about anything else proved impossible. Despite being at university, I could only succumb and sleep the pain away. I am not alone in this period-related struggle. Menstrual symptoms are linked to absenteeism and reduced productivity among young women, impacting their performance at work or school. On average, participants in one study reported losing 23 days of productivity each year because of their periods.As an honours nursing student working two jobs, I could not afford to lose any time. I approached my family physician for help with my severe period pains, only to be prescribed anti-inflammatory medications and rest. I felt dissatisfied with the conclusion and sought answers on my own, feeling that it might be a more serious issue, namely endometriosis. Investigating for AnswersEndometriosis is a prevalent condition where uterine lining-like tissue grows in other parts of the body, causing symptoms like pelvic pain. In Canada, diagnosis takes about 5.4 years. While laparoscopic surgery can best provide confirmation, newer guidelines increasingly support a diagnosis based on physical examination and pelvic ultrasound imaging.In the search for answers, I had a pelvic ultrasound done. When the results came back “normal,” I felt confused and uncertain, and even doubted if my pain experiences were real. But five days earlier, I tried the Endosure test—a new, non-invasive diagnostic tool—and my result came back positive for endometriosis. The contrast between the two experiences was striking: one left me uncomfortable and doubtful, while the other was painless and affirming.I later learned that basic ultrasounds may miss superficial or early-stage endometriosis. I realized that my “normal” result did not mean that my symptoms were not valid; rather, it meant that current imaging techniques might not be sensitive enough to detect subtle disease. That realization was both upsetting and reassuring. For the first time, I saw my experience not as a personal failing, but as a reflection of how complex and underdiagnosed this condition truly is. EndoDiagnosis visits the Health Cities office to provide a demonstration of their endometris-detecting device, EndoSure. Reclaiming Women’s Health Through InnovationUntil today, women’s health concerns are dismissed too often as stress, mental health conditions or even reduced as a normal part of life, like period pains. Beyond individual neglect, systemic gaps persist in the technologies we use, the research we fund, and the data we rely on, shaped by studies conducted on men. Even if healthcare providers genuinely want to help, the system does not equip them with the right tools. Endometriosis is a perfect example: how can they diagnose what they cannot see on standard imaging? When available diagnostics fall short, it is the patient who bears the uncertainty. This is why diagnostic innovation matters so deeply. As more research is conducted on devices like Endosure’s, I hope to see a shift towards evidence-based, accessible diagnostics that bridge the gap between lived experiences and medical recognition. The sooner that women are correctly diagnosed, the more empowered they are in making accurate and timely decisions about their care. At its core, women’s health deserves systems that listen—not just to lab results or imaging scans, but to the people living inside those bodies. The future of equitable healthcare depends on tools that do not dismiss women’s pain as invisible but validate it as real, measurable, and worthy of care. Author: Josia JacomeJosia Jacome is a fourth-year Honours nursing student at the University of Alberta. Apart from pursuing ICU survivor research, she also works as an ultrasound tech aide and a UNE at a cardiac surgery inpatient unit. These experiences have strengthened her passion for improving healthcare delivery through innovative approaches. Josia is eager to contribute to Health Cities during her leadership internship.