This is Alyx's story.
I was 14 when I first started experiencing endometriosis symptoms. I had really heavy periods and I was just extremely scared and felt like nobody understood my symptoms or what I was going through. I would dread getting a period at school.
The thought of asking a teacher in a lesson to go to the toilet in case of a leak through my trousers was one of the scariest things to me. Walking in front of all of my classmates, potentially with blood through my trousers and having to take my bag with me as well, because everyone would then know that I was on my period. I can't remember there being any period products available at school at all, so if I forgot mine, I'd have to ask someone else and they might have not had the right tampon for me.
I feel like having endometriosis symptoms as a teenager definitely did affect my education purely because I couldn't concentrate. Especially if I had exams when I was on my period, I would be a lot more worried about ‘am I going to bleed through onto the chair?’ rather than ‘have I got this question right?’. P.E. at school was hard. I actually have a memory of doing an extension class in cheerleading. I thought it sounded cool and I remember doing some cheerleading moves and feeling the gush of blood coming out and being absolutely horrified. I was worried that everyone had heard what I just felt. I never went back to that class again because it was so traumatising.
I didn't feel like anyone else could relate to me and my symptoms in any way. I genuinely felt like I was the only one because no one spoke about it. Teachers didn't talk about it. Students didn't talk about it. My family didn't talk about it.
I first went to the doctors when I was around 16, telling them that I felt like something wasn’t right. I think I went back about 16 times until someone said, ‘oh, maybe we should send you for some tests.’ They gave me a blood test and told me that it was 'just a bad period'. Then as I got older and I became sexually active, I realised that what I was experiencing definitely was not normal. I only found out about endometriosis five years ago through online research.
I really think there should be lessons at school about menstrual health and a frank and honest conversation encouraged by teachers explaining what is and isn’t normal. It would be great to show students some examples of people living life with endometriosis and just be open. I think if all students were taught about menstrual health there wouldn't be as much of a taboo because it wouldn't be misunderstood or a 'secret'.
Let's not let the next generation down.
The right resources and education can empower young people to advocate for themselves at every stage of their endometriosis journey. With your support, we can ensure a better future for the next generation.
