Have hope 

In telling my personal endometriosis story, I would like to give hope to young women suffering from endometriosis.

I am now 56 years old, but when I was 22 years of age, I had been suffering severely painful and debilitating periods for some time. After being married at 25 and not being able to fall pregnant by the time I turned 26, my local GP began investigative procedures. I was referred to a gynaecologist/obstetrician (who specialised in infertility) who, after performing a simple laparoscopy (keyhole surgery), diagnosed widespread endometriosis and multiple adhesions on my ovaries, fallopian tubes, and bowel.

After many further operations and referred microsurgery to remove painful ovarian cysts, endometrial adhesions and adhesion remnants, I was put onto a course of the drug Danazol for six months to attempt to halt any further endometriosis. After three years of operations, the very last laparoscopy revealed that the progress seemed to have been halted. I was told by my specialist to 'go home and get pregnant'. Imagine mine and my husband's delight, when just six weeks later, we were indeed pregnant! By this time I was 30 years old. Our daughter is now 24 years old, and our son came along just 18 months after our daughter was born.

So don't give up, and don't be put off by operations you may need. Consult as many doctors as it takes until you find someone who will listen to you. Always, always find a GP/Specialist who is willing to follow through, whom you are comfortable and in whom you trust completely. It makes all the difference. I viewed my doctor and specialist as coming close to God-like, because after all, we have our very own two miracles to prove it!

Best of luck!

Content Updated July 21, 2008