VEE’S ENDOMETRIOSIS DIAGNOSIS GRANT
Supporting women to get answers sooner.
Have you been battling female health symptoms like painful menstruation or ovulation, irregular periods, heavy bleeding, abdominal swelling, painful sex, excessive fatigue, and/or fertility challenges - but no one can tell you why? No matter how many doctors you see, naturopaths you visit, or supplements you take, there’s still zero relief? And now, you’re completely lost on where to turn for support and answers?
If you’re madly nodding along, you could be suffering from undiagnosed endometriosis. And we’re here, in your corner (gloves and all), to help you fight for some definitive answers.
Getting real answers to your women’s health concerns can be frustrating, costly, and exhausting - especially for those with endometriosis, where the path to diagnosis takes an average of 6.5 years. At Vee, we understand this deeply, with our Founder Emma, living with stage 4 endometriosis herself, and it’s a status quo that Vee is determined to challenge, and change.
So, why is it SO HARD to get a clear endometriosis diagnosis?
There are a lot of reasons, including…
- The complexity of endo, compounded by underfunded medical research, often leaves general practitioners ill-equipped to diagnose or provide adequate support. This forces women to seek costly specialist care for clear answers - something that isn’t accessible to all.
- Misdiagnosis due to highly variable symptoms from woman to woman (i.e. your endo symptoms might look completely different from someone else’s).
- The normalisation of menstrual pain - you know, the ‘grin and bear it’ mentality that comes from being told it’s ‘just period pain.’ Periods should not be painful.
With a shortage of general practitioner expertise in endo, women are often left with no choice but to rely on costly specialist consultations, ultrasounds, and eventually, the steep expense of laparoscopic surgery to get the definitive diagnosis and treatment they desperately need.
That’s exactly why we created the Vee Endometriosis Diagnosis Grant—a $5,000 support fund to help women seeking answers to unresolved endo-specific symptoms access the care they deserve.
So, what exactly is Vee’s Endometriosis Diagnosis Grant?
Vee Underwear is proud to offer a $1,000 grant to five selected applicants experiencing symptoms commonly associated with endometriosis. These funds are being gifted to help cover some of the steep medical costs associated with the specialist appointments and ultrasounds, required on the path to get a definitive endo diagnosis.
Vee’s Endometriosis Diagnosis Grant is here to lighten the load and ease the financial burden for those who suspect they may have endo. Our mission is to support women left in limbo, helping them access the specialist appointments and scans they need to get closer to a diagnosis. No matter the outcome, this grant is about ensuring women have access to the expert care required to uncover the root cause of their symptoms - because a 6.5-year wait for answers is simply unacceptable. Enough is enough.
If this grant could support you, please review our FAQ below to confirm your eligibility and apply via the link below.
If it’s not for you but could benefit someone you know, please share this URL: https://veeunderwear.com/pages/endometriosis-grant.
Want to learn more about endometriosis? Follow @veeunderwear for educational content and expert insights throughout Endometriosis Awareness Month.
Eligibility & FAQ’S:
If you're experiencing symptoms suggestive of endometriosis but haven’t received an official diagnosis, and you need access to specialist consultations and ultrasounds to get answers—but are facing financial challenges in accessing these specialist services.
This grant is for women who are still on the pathway to diagnosis—not for those who have already been diagnosed with endometriosis and have received treatment, including laparoscopic surgery.
While we would love to support women who have already been diagnosed with endometriosis in their treatment journey, the focus of this grant is to reduce the average 6.5-year diagnostic delay. Living in limbo, without knowing what’s causing your symptoms, can be both mentally and physically crippling. Our aim is to help women access the specialist care and testing they need to move forward with a clear plan for treatment and management.
To apply, you must:
- Be experiencing symptoms suggestive of endometriosis but haven’t received an official diagnosis.
- Be a resident of Australia.
If successful, grant recipients must consent to:
- Vee Underwear sharing your first name, headshot, story, and progress post-grant via Vee Underwear’s Instagram, Facebook, Email, and Website.
- A 6-monthly check-in with Vee Underwear for updates and progress (casual video call with Founder, Em).
- Utilising the funds within 6 months of transfer and providing proof (in the form of invoicing) that the funds were used for medical investigation of endometriosis.
Please note: All applicants must consent to the commitments above in order to apply.
The $1,000 Vee Endometriosis Diagnosis Grant is designed to help with the costs associated with the following:
- Specialist consultations – Appointments with endometriosis specialist gynaecologists or other relevant healthcare providers.
- Diagnostic imaging – Ultrasounds, MRIs, or other scans needed to investigate potential endometriosis.
The aim of the grant is to assist you in covering these costs to help you get closer to a definitive diagnosis. Specialist consultations generally range from $250–$400 per appointment.
Here’s an example of the steps a recipient might take as part of their journey to a diagnosis:
1. GP referral – You may need a referral from your GP to see an endometriosis specialist gynaecologist.
2. Consultation with endometriosis specialist gynaecologist – During this consultation, you’ll discuss your symptoms and the likelihood of an endometriosis diagnosis. Based on this discussion, you might be referred for diagnostic imaging to provide the specialist with more information. (Approx. cost: $250–$350)
3. Diagnostic imaging – Depending on your specialist’s advice, you might then complete the recommended imaging, such as ultrasounds or MRIs. (Approx. cost: $250–$350)
4. Follow-up consultation – After your imaging, you may return to your specialist for a follow-up consultation to discuss the results. At this point, the specialist should be able to provide clarity on one of the following:
- Endometriosis diagnosis confirmed via diagnostic imaging.
- Strong suspicion of endometriosis based on both the specialist’s observations and diagnostic imaging, though a laparoscopy surgery may be required to formally diagnose (not all cases can be diagnosed through imaging).
- Endometriosis unlikley based on both the specialist’s observations and imaging. If this is the case, the specialist should provide clarity on other potential causes for your symptoms and continue to guide you toward answers.
Regardless of the outcome, the goal of this grant is to give you access to the specialist care you need to uncover or get closer to a definitive diagnosis.
Disclaimer - the information provided here, including the steps and costs mentioned, is purely hypothetical and is intended to offer a digestible example of what the process might look like for our grant recipients. These steps are not medical advice and every individual’s journey may vary, and we encourage you to consult with a specialist healthcare provider for guidance tailored to your specific situation.
Applications will be reviewed based on financial need, the urgency of diagnosis, and the overall impact of your symptoms. We take a holistic approach when reviewing and all applications will be assessed with care and confidentiality.
If you're selected, you'll be notified via email on 25th March, along with instructions on how to access the grant funds and the next steps.
If you don’t hear from us on 25th March, unfortunately, we weren’t able to offer you funding this round. We know this can be disappointing, but please don’t lose heart – we’re committed to keeping all applicants informed about future opportunities. Due to the high volume of applications, we may not be able to respond to individual queries about your application status, but we truly appreciate the time and effort you’ve taken to share your story with us.
This is the first year of our grant, and while we wish we could support everyone who applies, we’re a small female start-up with big ambitions. But don’t worry — we’re just getting started! We’re committed to growing this initiative and making it bigger and better each year, so we can support even more people on their female health journey.
- Follow us on Instagram at @veeunderwear for announcements.
Subscribe to our email newsletter for updates on new initiatives.
disclaimer
Vee Underwear is not a medical organisation, and the information provided as part of this grant and campaign is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This is not medical advice, and every individual’s journey is unique. If you are experiencing symptoms or have concerns about your health, we strongly encourage you to seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional, such as a GP or gynaecologist.