Adenomyosis is a painful condition that impacts even more women than endometriosis, but experts say there is still "an appalling lack" of knowledge and awareness of the disease in Australia.

It impacts an estimated one-in-five to one-in-three Australian women, according to government health resources, while endometriosis affects about one-in-nine women.

And the symptoms of severe cases of adenomyosis often tend to be even worse than endometriosis – causing heavy bleeding as well as severe period pain – and treatment paths are not as widely known as those for its "cousin".

READ MORE: Why a Brisbane mum had surgery to stop her periods

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