My Endometriosis and Fertility Journey by Gemma Hardy
My journey started from aged 11 (grade 5!) when I was blessed with my period. From such a young age we are taught that the day we start our period, is a day to be celebrated because we are finally a woman. We now know that this is not the case for majority of women who have endometriosis. From the first day of my very first period, I experienced unimaginable pain (this is just normal though right, period cramps) heavy bleeding and the feeling of shame – for being ungrateful and wishing the gift of being able to reproduce, be taken away.
I would often find myself rushing to the bathroom during primary school finding I had bleed through all my clothes – using my jumper to wrap around me to hide the stains of my period. Hoping no one would notice. At aged 11 all I wanted to do was enjoy myself and be like the other girls – running around, laughing in the playground but I knew I was different, I felt I was different. School became difficult not long after my period came, I struggled to concentrate due to the cramping, stabbing pain and feeling as though someone was ripping me from the inside out. I remember talking with my mum at the time about this thing I was blessed with, she would often say its just normal period cramps – it will get better.
Months went on and I just could not handle the expected arrival of my period every month, so my mum took me to our GP. I do not quite recall what my GP educated us on in that consultation however I did come out with an ongoing script for Levlen ED at aged 12. Each time of the month was still agony and affected my ability to function – now causing me to miss days off school curled up in bed with a heat pack and analgesia. We visited my GP once again with the same complaints who suggested tricycling (skipping my period for months at a time) and to start taking Ponstan. This helped tremendously- from aged 12 till now at aged 27 I have been able to self-manage by utilising analgesia, heat, Ponstan and tricycling.
Between aged 12 and 24 I once again visited my GP for concerns regarding my reproductive health. My GP suggested taking anti-inflammatories a few days leading up to my period to manage the pain – this was easier said than done (you will know what I mean if your period cycle sporadically changes from month to month). An internal ultrasound was also suggested to rule out polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the results showed “you have a lot of follicles” and blood tests were not conclusive with a diagnosis of PCOS.
Fast forward to aged 24 after 11 years on contraception for the management of my period pains. The year I was married, starting to think about future planning – do we want children, if we do how many and can we even have children – surely the pill for 11 continuous years can’t be good for my reproductive health. After some discussions with my husband, we decided to give my body a much-needed break from the pill. We both knew we wanted a family and were open to the possibility of this occurring sooner rather than later. Within a couple months off the pill, I remembered all too well what I felt at aged 11 – the return of bloating, cramping, stabbing and ripping from inside out pain. I continued like this for another 3 years with the help of my husband (bless him) – during this time we never tried nor prevented conceiving a child.
I am now 27, have been off contraception for 3 years and have finally asked my GP (the same one by the way) for a referral to a gynaecologist. We visited a local obstetrician and gynaecologist in our area, discussed my cycle, pain, other associated symptoms and my overall health. Another internal ultrasound was suggested and later identified increased fluid within my pelvis and a cyst – however no significant amount of endometriosis could be identified via ultrasound. From the subjective and ultrasound my gynaecologist reported “it sounds like you have endometriosis” and talked to us about our options – laparoscopic surgery.
My husband and I also discussed fertility – as the research states 30% of women of reproductive age who are struggling to fall pregnant do so because of endometriosis. We had never been actively trying nor preventing a pregnancy however this is always in the back of your mind if you are suddenly facing a diagnosis of endometriosis. From a young age I never pictured myself with children or actively vocalised the thought of one day becoming a mum – all that changed when I met my husband. We can’t wait to someday start our family and pray we will get to experience this wonderful gift that is creating life. The thought of potentially struggling to fall pregnant or never being able to conceive and birth a child is hard to comprehend. The plan at this stage in my endometriosis journey is to actively start trying to conceive, within 3 months if we have not fallen pregnant further tests have been ordered to help us on our fertility journey. My endometriosis still causes unbearable pain and suffering every month and is in the back of my mind however I don’t see the need, nor want to pursue laparoscopic surgery – just yet.
Until we meet again.
Gemma.
Physiotherapist @ BallaratPregnancyPhysio
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