MIT Screens Documentary on Endometriosis

Menstruation Science Day at MIT paired a screening of "End of the Cycle" with an expert panel on the condition.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Women’s Health

Empty tiered lecture hall with wooden seating rows descending toward a bare stage, lit by soft daylight through tall windows onto red-brick architecture. — MIT hosted a Menstruation Science Day screening of the documentary "End of the Cycle" on Sept. 30, followed by an expert panel on endometriosis. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should the government spend more on endometriosis research?

MIT hosted Menstruation Science Day on Sept. 30, where more than 250 community members watched the documentary "End of the Cycle" about endometriosis. The event was followed by an expert panel moderated by MIT Professor Linda Griffith.

Why it matters

Endometriosis affects more than 265 million women worldwide, and the film and panel spotlight a condition that has long been underrecognized. For Cambridge, the event places the research of MIT's Center for Gynepathology Research in front of the local public.

The United Nations estimates that 1 in 10 women of reproductive age is affected by endometriosis, a figure cited in the film alongside a worldwide count of more than 265 million women. The documentary runs 1 hour, 21 minutes.

The players

MIT

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that hosted the event.

Linda Griffith

MIT Professor Linda Griffith directs the Center for Gynepathology Research at MIT and moderated the expert panel.

Sammy Jaye Lang

Sammy Jaye Lang co-directed the documentary "End of the Cycle" and participated in the expert panel.

The details

The documentary "End of the Cycle," directed by Sammy Jaye and Soraya Simi, was presented by The Endometriosis Collective and weaves personal narratives, science, historical revelations and cultural commentary. It profiles Marilyn Monroe, who struggled with the condition until her death in 1962 at age 36, and features women including Amy Schumer and Julianne Hough. The event at MIT included a screening followed by an expert panel with Sammy Jaye Lang, Steve Palmer, Eliezer Calo, Stephanie Morris and Aleshia Carlsen-Bryan.

1962: Marilyn Monroe died at age 36 after struggling with endometriosis.
Sept. 30: More than 250 members of the MIT community gathered for Menstruation Science Day.
Nov. 3: The featured video was published on MIT News.

Health Landscape

The event places endometriosis research from MIT's Center for Gynepathology Research alongside public education about a condition affecting 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. It reflects a growing effort to bring research on women's reproductive conditions into broader public conversation.

Women who experience chronic pelvic pain or painful periods may find the film's account of how long endometriosis goes undiagnosed relevant to their own care. The expert panel offered a forum for patients and clinicians to discuss symptoms and available approaches.

The takeaway

Endometriosis is common, and its long history of under-diagnosis means women with persistent symptoms are encouraged to raise them with a clinician. Public screenings like this one can help bring the condition into everyday conversation.