I'm Clare 40 years old and I've been with my partner for 7 years. We want children, it's not happened yet but we're hopeful.
So I've suffered from very painful and irregular periods for a few years, I've visited the doctor numerous times and my issues were dismissed until I met one doctor and literally cried to her. I explained I had read a book called "Period Power" I could see the look on her face as she thought "christ a book" but it opened my eyes and taught me that I don't have to put up with this pain and there is something wrong.
After looking into conditions (a lot of them do have the same symptoms) Endometriosis/PCOS/Perimenopause. It's hard to figure out what you could be dealing with. These things are not taught in school, I just assumed that every woman suffered in pain. Also linked with this is my fertility and being 40, I needed to know if this was something that could possibly affect me, as I want children. I've obviously thought about all the scenarios in my head and what my options are.
Navigating the medical system can be isolating and scary
After a good 9 months, I've managed to see a gynecologist via the NHS who informed me I had a 4cm cyst on my ovary, when I questioned if that would affect fertility she said she was only here to investigate my periods and possible PCOS/endo. When I also told her about the pain I was experiencing on the opposite side of the cyst I was told it was nothing and probably period pains!
I know my body, I know when it's period pain and this is not.
I feel like I'm constantly dismissed and made to feel like I don't know what I'm on about. It's my body and I'm taking control. I just feel like women's health is so low down on the agenda and there's not enough education around these women's issues.
I'm just tired of being made to feel unimportant and that my health is not higher on the agenda. And the hours I spend in pain/crying /bedridden because it zaps my energy is just in my imagination.
The NHS [in the U.K.] is amazing but I personally think there's not enough being done around women's health, I read it can take up to 7 years to be diagnosed with endometriosis? (Unsure if this is exact) but what woman has that amount of time to get a diagnosis?
Not me a woman who just turned 40!
I just think these conversations need to be normalised amongst women so we don't suffer in silence.
What's next for Clare?
I had a scan last week and was told the cyst has disappeared, I'm waiting on another appointment with my gynecologist to look at the results in-depth, My partner and I have also decided to pay privately to have a fertility check done for peace of mind.
I'm unsure what will happen after that we'll decide on the next course of action then.
Clare shares her story from the United Kingdom. Thank you for sharing x Emma & Lynette.
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proud of you clare!! you're amazing for sharing