Doctors said I was too young to have endometriosis at 13 - I had to take morphine to cope
Grace, 14, feels doctors were dismissive of her pain. She wants others to know the symptoms.
Grace, now 14, has endured excruciating pain during her periods for years. She has been told she is too young for endometriosis, a condition causing lesions and scarring on internal organs. Doctors dismissed her symptoms as irritable bowel syndrome, a cyst, anxiety, or simply a bad period. Despite being bedridden and needing morphine, she was repeatedly sent home with more painkillers.
It wasn't until a private consultation that she received a diagnosis. Endometriosis affects about 10% of women and can develop at any age, though it's often misunderstood as only affecting older women. Grace's condition can lead to fertility issues, and she fears she may not be able to have children after 30. She warns that missing school, PE, or social activities due to pain is not normal.
Dr. Gail Busby, a paediatric gynaecologist, sees adolescents with endometriosis symptoms and emphasizes that their pain is real. Grace's case is not unusual, but she hopes sharing her experience will encourage other teenagers to seek a diagnosis.
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