Behind period pain that is still too often brushed off, there can sometimes be a chronic, systemic, and deeply exhausting disease.
One in ten menstruating people worldwide is believed to be affected by endometriosis. In Canada, that represents close to two million people, roughly the population of Montreal. And yet, despite how common it is, this condition remains poorly understood, poorly diagnosed, and too often minimized. That is exactly what the podcast Une sur dix brings back into focus by opening a conversation that feels both intimate, social, and deeply necessary.
At Iris + Arlo, we are proud partners of the podcast Une sur dix, a series that opens an essential conversation around endometriosis, pain, and everything society still too often chooses to minimize.
Endometriosis can cause intense menstrual pain, pelvic pain, fatigue, and, in some cases, fertility-related challenges. But beyond the symptoms, what this disease also reveals is everything we still continue to downplay when it comes to pain experienced by women.
When pain becomes something we learn to live with
For a long time, menstrual pain has been treated as something normal, almost expected. As if suffering were simply part of the picture. As if the problem only began when the pain became impossible to hide.
That is also why endometriosis remains so misunderstood. Because it exists within experiences we have learned to minimize. Because it is sometimes confused with other gynecological conditions. Because too many people still live with their symptoms before truly being heard.
We also explore this in our article on fibroids and endometriosis.
A disease that affects more than just the body
When people talk about endometriosis, they often talk about physical pain. But the reality goes far beyond that.
This condition can affect daily life, work, relationships, energy, mental load, and a person’s relationship with their own body. Beyond the changes it brings to the lives of those living with it, endometriosis is also estimated to cost Canadian society $1.8 billion per year, proof that its impact extends far beyond the individual. It can also shape the way someone organizes their days, imagines their future, or simply tries to maintain some balance in what they are living through.
That is what makes these conversations so important. They shift the perspective. They remind us that endometriosis is not only a question of symptoms, but also of quality of life, listening, and recognition.
Why these conversations matter so much
Talking more openly about endometriosis is not only about naming a disease more clearly. It is also about questioning what our society chooses to believe, fund, prioritize, and sometimes ignore.
When a condition affects so many people and still remains so poorly understood, the problem is no longer only individual. It becomes collective. It touches healthcare, research, access to care, and the way certain kinds of pain are still treated as secondary.
That lack of recognition feels even more striking as research continues to move forward, including the recent commercialization of Endotest, an RNA-based diagnostic test, as well as ongoing work at Université Laval.
That is where Une sur dix finds its strength. The podcast does not simply aim to inform. It opens a space. A space to listen differently, to recognize what has long been pushed aside, and to make more room for a reality that is still surrounded by silence.
Why we wanted to talk about it at Iris + Arlo
At Iris + Arlo, we believe conversations about periods should never stop at menstrual products. We also need to talk about what is lived in silence, what people are taught to endure, and what it is time to finally face.
Une sur dix reminds us that behind pain that is often trivialized, there can sometimes be a real, complex disease that has been overlooked for far too long. And sometimes, the first step is simply believing those who say they are in pain.
To go further, you can listen to the podcast Une sur dix.
About the podcast
Une sur dix is a production by À la trois Média, led by Lia Ferranti, with research and script by Aurelia Crémoux and Alexia Boyer. Distributed by Pivot.
