In December 2019, driven by my passion to raise awareness of endometriosis, I founded the Endometriosis UK Cumbria Support Group. My goal was to ensure that no one was left to suffer in silence as I had for so many years, and that those affected had the support and information they needed to navigate this difficult journey.

My story starts when I was 13 and I was advised to go on the pill to manage my painful and heavy periods. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a long and challenging journey. Twenty years later, I was diagnosed with deep infiltrating endometriosis, which eventually progressed to adenomyosis. Over the years, my health deteriorated, culminating in a complex surgery in 2022 at the age of 46. Following the surgery, I entered surgical menopause, and my dream of having biological children was shattered.

Since having surgery, I have been living pain and sickness-free, which has brought me a sense of relief.

A year and a half after my surgery, I took on the emotionally challenging role of becoming a patient voice for an innovative NHS project focused on addressing the long wait times for complex endometriosis surgery. This decision has brought me to where I am today, and I hope my talk will offer valuable insights and something meaningful for you to take away.