Could it be endometriosis?

I have just had an investigative laparoscopy after many years of pain and discomfort.

I’m in my late 20s now but have experienced symptoms and pain since I was about 14 years old.

Why didn’t I do anything sooner? I have asked myself the same question many times, but I felt dismissed, embarrassed and discouraged. I learned to manage my pain to a certain extent, and I was also fearful that it could end up being something psychological and not biological. This was probably my biggest fear after years of being told my symptoms were likely stress-related.

When I think back, I knew from the start it was more. I graduated (with a biology degree) and eventually went on to work in IVF, and yet I still tried to ignore my own body. When I finally decided to reapproach the topic of my own health, it took two years to have the right conversations with the right people to be ready to investigate further.

I was fortunate to meet an incredible female gynecologist and surgeon who listened and almost immediately offered me the surgery I required. I was hesitant however, and kept finding reasons to delay or find something more important to do with my time.

I slowly realized that this was a good thing to investigate.

The specialists, my family and close friends all supported my decision to finally listen to the voice telling me to have a look. It also became important for me to understand the impact this could have on my fertility.

I had never been under general anesthesia and, to be honest, never really stopped and rested. This was perhaps the biggest challenge. I can honestly say it was just not that bad – not as bad as I thought the recovery or rest would be. It has given me time to process just how long I ignored my own warning signs.

I have read books, cooked nutritious meals and allowed the wounds to begin to heal. I just took the dressings off and have three tiny, incredibly neat scars.

I now have the information I need to lift years of anxiety from my shoulders. I don’t think my life will radically change, but I do think I have regained some confidence over my own body.

As I have spoken more openly about this journey to other women, friends, family, and even colleagues, I have learned I am certainly not alone. Too many of us accept pain or discomfort as part of our daily lives without pushing for more answers. It is challenging to push for answers as a woman, and there are lots of hours required on the phone, paperwork to sign, appointments to attend and, sadly, in many cases, money spent to eventually make it far enough to be taken seriously.

I just hope that over the next decade we have more research on women’s health, more funding in our health systems and more understanding that we know our own bodies better than anyone else.

So, if you have the question “Could it be endometriosis?” on your mind,
there is a reason you are asking.

At time of publication the author is still awaiting an official diagnosis.