1. What’s your worst, funniest, or most awkward period story?

I don’t really have a funny or light-hearted period story. For me, the most awkward part has always been the heavy, uncontrollable bleeding, and not knowing why it was happening. I wouldn’t even call it embarrassing, just overwhelming and hard to manage, especially when I was younger and didn’t have answers.

 2. What have you demystified about your female body that you wish you knew when you were younger?

I wish someone had told me the truth about periods, how painful they can be, how heavy the bleeding can get. No one explained what was actually normal and what wasn’t. In my case, I never experienced what others would call a “mild” period. Even my “mild” was full of pain. I now know that was due to endometriosis. I’ve learned the hard way that pain is not something you’re just supposed to accept. It’s your body’s way of telling you something is wrong.

3. Have you been diagnosed with a women’s health condition (like endometriosis, PCOS, PMDD, etc.)? If so, how did you know something wasn’t right, and what was your journey like to get answers?

Yes, I’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, adenomyosis, and pelvic floor dysfunction. I was originally told I had polycystic ovaries, but that diagnosis was later taken away because I didn’t fit the typical criteria, mainly because I wasn’t overweight enough or didn’t have excessive body hair. At my heaviest, I was around 125 kg, and I’ve struggled with weight most of my life. I also had visible cysts on my ovaries, but even then, I wasn’t taken seriously. It still took years to finally get the right answers and have my pain acknowledged.

4. What was your diagnosis experience like?

The diagnosis journey was incredibly long and exhausting. I suffered for nearly 17 years. I was pushed from doctor to doctor, constantly told it was just my weight, or that it was all in my head. “Just lose weight and things will improve,” they said. I knew something was wrong, but I had to fight every step of the way to be taken seriously.

 5. How has your condition changed your daily life?

My conditions have completely changed my daily life. I’ve gone from working and being social to mostly being housebound. Most days I’m in pain. Even basic tasks like doing the washing or cleaning leave me shattered. I’m constantly tired. My sleep is broken. I now live with major bowel issues, and I don’t often feel safe or confident leaving the house unless I’ve planned every detail carefully.

 6. What symptoms made you think something wasn’t right with your body?

Looking back, the very first signs that something was seriously wrong probably weren’t even to do with my period, they were bowel-related. I struggled to go to the toilet properly from a young age, and for a long time no one looked deeper into why. Later came the heavy bleeding, the extreme pain. The signs were always there, but when you don’t know what to look for, it’s easy to miss them, or worse, to be told they’re normal.

 7. Have you tried anything that has helped you manage your symptoms?

One of the biggest things that’s helped me manage my symptoms is cannabis. It has given me some relief and a sense of control. It doesn’t always take the pain away completely, but it helps, and it’s made a huge difference in my quality of life. About two years ago, before my most recent surgery, I was on nearly 100 mg of morphine a day, along with oxycodone and other medications. Now I only use those heavy drugs occasionally, maybe once or twice a month. Cannabis has helped me step away from relying on constant opioids.

 8. What’s one thing you wish more people understood about women’s health?

That it’s not one-size-fits-all. Just because someone has “stage one” or “mild” endometriosis doesn’t mean their pain is mild. The medical labels don’t always match the lived experience. Every woman’s body is different, and every story deserves to be heard and believed.

 9. If you could tell younger you one thing about your body, what would it be?

Listen to your body. Don’t push through pain. Pay attention to the signs. Your body is trying to protect you, don’t let anyone talk you out of that knowing.

10. When your body feels hard to live in, how do you take care of yourself?

I turn to the things that keep me grounded. Photography. Creating. Nature. Light walks. Time with people I love. Self-care and self-compassion. These things don’t take the pain away, but they remind me that even in a body that feels broken, I still deserve joy, peace, and beauty.