NOV–11–2024
Words by: Mathilde Refloch
Graphic by: Midjourney
Graphic by: Midjourney
Turns out, I wasn’t crazy and was definitely not pretending; I just had endometriosis.
What is endometriosis?
According to the World Health Organization, endometriosis is “a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.” The cause is unknown, the cure is nonexistent, and the pain is…severe. To me, endometriosis meant being unable to attend class, being unable to make a career in sports, and having to explain my condition every single time I was on a date just in case it would be too much for my partner.
Don’t be daunted by the whole “no cure” aspect, though; there are many ways to treat it. If you or someone you know just got diagnosed with endometriosis, even if the picture doesn’t look pretty, a diagnosis can be a first step towards a solution and away from “mystery” pain.
After my diagnosis, I was put on Slinda, a progestin-only Birth Control pill, that blocked my period and will continue to do so for a good part of my life. I would like to add that although this pill works for me, it’s not a universal fixer. Depending on your symptoms, you should try and talk to your doctors about your possibilities. I tried Sawis Gé, Dienogest, Optilova prior to Slinda, but none of those worked for me.
The Bloody Battle
While I could finally say goodbye to the pain, the tears, and my hospital bed after finding a medication that worked to relieve my symptoms, it was bittersweet; at the same time, I was also saying goodbye to something that I used to associate with being a woman.
Society has placed so much meaning on periods — they’ve become sacred in a way. For the longest time, I felt like I lost my womanhood. And the idea that menstruation equals womanhood can be harmful, not just for people with gynecological issues like me, but also for trans women, trans men and anyone else whose body doesn’t fit into this narrow view of what womanhood is “supposed” to look like. Many of us have dealt with feelings of doubt, depression, or body dysmorphia because of the heavyweight periods carry in the world’s idea of femininity.
After some time, I’ve come to a realization: Not only have I never been happier or healthier, I’ve also never felt more like a woman than I do right now. Talking to your friends, to your doctors, and even taking medical tests to make sure your uterus is doing well is not shameful. Womanhood does not have to mean suffering.
What Does the After Look Like?
In less extreme cases, taking pain relievers and going through hormone therapy will probably do the trick. But for some of us, there may come a time when surgery is necessary if symptoms worsen or can’t be managed any longer. For those thinking about having biological children, fertility treatments might also be part of the journey.
I won’t downplay anyone's experience because there are as many different types of endometriosis as there are people suffering from it. But living with treatment means we can finally attend class or chase our dreams of becoming professional athletes without our bodies holding us back. And hey, if your date can’t handle all of you, maybe you just dodged a new kind of pain.