Canadian women face years-long waits for endometriosis care, some travel to Mexico for treatment
Frustrated by multi-year waitlists in Canada, women like Noelle Menu have paid tens of thousands of dollars for private endometriosis surgery in Tijuana, Mexico.
Canadian women with endometriosis are confronting extensive delays in diagnosis and treatment, with average wait times of five years for a diagnosis and up to four years to see a specialist, according to a 2025 parliamentary report. Facing severe pain and limited options, patients such as Noelle Menu have turned to private clinics in Tijuana, spending roughly $35,000 on surgery, travel and accommodation. EndoGlobal’s founder Dr. Jorge Zavala says the disease is often missed because many physicians lack specific training.
The report attributes the problem partly to gender bias and cultural taboos around menstrual pain. Dr. Nicholas Leyland of the Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada warned that insufficient specialist capacity forces women into medical tourism. Federal responses include new data collection by Statistics Canada and a $4.9 million research investment by the Canadian Institute of Health Research.
