Two women, Gabriella Pearson and Anna Cooper, have bravely shared their harrowing experiences with endometriosis, shedding light on the excruciating reality faced by millions of women. Despite seeking help from doctors for years, they were repeatedly dismissed, told that their debilitating agony was just a normal part of being a woman. However, their suffering was caused by endometriosis, a serious inflammatory condition that affects one in ten women in the UK.

According to new research published in March for Endometriosis Awareness Month, it takes an average of eight years and 10 months for women to receive a diagnosis for endometriosis. Shockingly, 78% of sufferers reported that at least one doctor had dismissed their symptoms as a ‘fuss about nothing’.

Gabriella Pearson, now 31, has undergone five surgeries to address the damage caused to her bowel, womb, fallopian tubes, bladder, and ovaries. Similarly, Anna Cooper, 30, has endured 16 surgeries and now relies on a stoma bag for daily living.

Gabriella recalls the distressing experience of being told by doctors that her continual agony was just ‘period pains’, while Anna, who had endometriosis symptoms from the age of 11, was repeatedly ignored by multiple doctors until she was 18. She even bled for 72 days in a row, only to be told it was normal and that the pain was all in her head.

Both women have suffered irreversible damage due to the years of misdiagnosis and dismissal by medical professionals. Their stories highlight the urgent need for improved awareness and understanding of endometriosis within the medical community, as well as the importance of listening to and validating women’s experiences with chronic pain.