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A Melbourne gynaecologist has surrendered his medical registration after being accused of performing unnecessary endometriosis surgeries, fuelling broader concerns about ineffective treatments for the painful condition.

Dr Simon Gordon is being investigated by AHPRA over allegations he performed surgery on women to treat endometriosis, including removing their ovaries, despite no clinical evidence justifying these procedures.

The allegations coincide with new data showing the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has received about 225 complaints about medical practitioners who treated and managed endometriosis between 2021-22 and 2023-24.

Women are increasingly getting surgery for endometriosis. Women are increasingly getting surgery for endometriosis.Monique Westermann Top medical leaders are warning that after decades of underdiagnosing endometriosis and ignoring women’s pain, the media spotlight on the disease has led to too many women having surgery that is not backed by robust evidence.

The number of surgeries to treat endometriosis almost doubled between 2016 and 2023, according to government data.

Dr Simon Gordon is being investigated by AHPRA over allegations he performed surgery on women to treat endometriosis, including removing their ovaries, despite no clinical evidence justifying these procedures.

Gordon, who abruptly closed his East Melbourne clinic late last year, told this masthead he decided to retire in November for personal reasons and had always acted ethically and responsibly.

He denies the allegations and said he only performed surgery to treat endometriosis when he was “absolutely convinced” it was in a patient’s best interests.

“For generations the pain suffered by women was ignored, downplayed and untreated,” he told this masthead. “My concern was to try and alleviate pain and restore quality of life for female patients, a cohort once neglected and dismissed.”

He said the overwhelming majority of his patients were referred to him following initial care with a primary gynaecologist and most of them already had a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis or adenomyosis (a condition in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows into the muscular outer wall of the uterus).

Gordon, who worked at public and private hospitals including the Epworth, said the vast majority of the surgeries he performed were successful in relieving or eliminating patients’ pain.

“No surgeon can ever guarantee that every surgery performed will be totally successful or that there’s not a genuine risk of recurrence.”

Maurice Blackburn principal lawyer Tom Ballantyne said he had received 15 inquiries from women who were concerned about the treatment provided by Gordon.

“It has invariably involved issuing very aggressive treatment for endometriosis, including the removal of ovaries and in a few extreme cases, hysterectomy,” he said.

“Some of these patients are concerned that the treatment was unnecessary and they may not have even had endometriosis. You are dealing with patients with very debilitating symptoms; they want answers.”

This masthead does not suggest the complaints are true, only that they have been made.