"Endometriosis"

I am 26 and live in Brighton and Hove. My GP is based in Hove, and my gynaecology team is in Worthing. I had been going to the GP for eight years with painful, irregular, heavy periods. I had been given IBS medication, the pill (four different types which didn't agree with me) and told I had a tilted cervix. Mostly though, I was repeatedly told it was something I would grow out of.

After ending up in A&E passing clots I begged my GP to refer me to a specialist where I was later diagnosed with stage four endometriosis with lesions and growths on my ovaries, uterus, bowel, appendix, rectum, cervix, bladder and pouch of Douglas (basically everywhere! ).

I've had two very painful operations, have been given many very nasty medication with some horrible side effects and there's a chance my fertility could be compromised. I'm also facing a hysterectomy within the next ten years.

My gynaecology experience has been largely positive; particularly Miss Jenny Lo from Worthing hospital. However, I just wish my GP had taken me seriously sooner and referred me. It would have saved a lot of heartache, pain and worry. I felt like I was irritating the GP and wasting their time, so I just accepted that it was meant to be.