As a teenager Lady Eve (not her real name) had such painful periods that she rolled on the floor and the flow was so heavy that she was period shamed countless times by her schoolmates. Even as she got older the menstrual shaming continued and the memories remain. It was not until she was able to save money and visit a gynaecologist at the age of 24 that she found out she has endometriosis.
Mandy (not her real name) also had similar experiences, but she was diagnosed at the age of 18 and she recalled the doctor bluntly telling her that she needed to have a child before she had to “remove everything” (meaning her uterus) in surgery. Mandy protested as she did not even have a boyfriend. She was then given the option of being placed on contraceptives.
