What's your worst, funniest, or most awkward period story?

Getting my period during one of my classes in high school with nothing on me, so having to go to the school sick bay where they basically gave me a full blown nappy-sized pad to wear for the rest of the day. Mortifying at the time!

And very TMI, but I tried using a Diva cup for the first time, got it stuck, more like I just didn't know how to remove it, panicked, and ended up calling my GP and nurse because I couldn't get it out. I was literally sweating, pacing back and forth in my bathroom.

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

I wish I knew way earlier that periods aren't meant to feel that unbearable for everyone. Yes, discomfort is normal, but being in agony, or feeling like you're just being dramatic because other people's periods weren't as intense, isn't something you should have to push through in silence.

The biggest game-changing realisation was probably that everybody is just different, and there isn't one "normal." Not everything is going to be fixed by being put on different pills or contraception. Sometimes there's actually more going on, and you're not imagining it.

Have you been diagnosed with a women's health or gut health condition? If so, how did you know something wasn't right, and what was your journey like to get answers?

Yes, I was diagnosed with endometriosis after keyhole surgery at 16. I knew something wasn't right basically from when I first got my period. I was always in debilitating pain, getting picked up from school, feeling faint and dizzy, and my periods would last a solid 7 days where I'd be hunched over with a wheat bag most of the time, constantly taking painkillers. It really affected my time at school and meant I missed out on so much.

What was your diagnosis experience like?

It was a long, frustrating process, and I can't thank my mum enough for being my biggest advocate throughout. As someone so young, doctors continuously tried to just put me on the contraceptive pill. I trialled so many, different strengths, right up to the highest doses. They would sometimes work for the first few months, then stop. This went on for years.

I was also told it was constipation causing my pain, and I often felt like doctors either assumed I just wanted the pill or that I was exaggerating. I saw multiple gynaecologists and women's health doctors and often felt unheard.

Eventually, with my mum still pushing for answers, we were referred to a specialist gynaecologist who I finally felt listened by. I was given the option of trying one last contraceptive, another 3-month trial, or having keyhole surgery to check for endometriosis. Given so many years of medications not working, I chose surgery, which resulted in my diagnosis.

How has your condition impacted your daily life?

Missing quite a bit of school during the peak of dealing with this was really tough. It's such a crucial time, and it mattered so much to me. Missing classes meant I fell behind in some subjects and lost out on experiences I couldn't get back. It's also impacted my work and social life significantly, meaning a lot of time off across everything. When you're crippled over in pain, every aspect of life becomes hard to focus on. On top of that, my energy levels and immune system would take a real hit around my period. When the pain was that debilitating, my whole body felt it.

What symptoms made you think something wasn't right with your body?

A 7-day heavy flow was a sign, but like a lot of people I brushed it off. Some people just have heavy periods. The cramps were aggressive to the point where I couldn't focus on anything else, but even then it took me a while to realise that wasn't normal. I think when you're young you just assume maybe yours are bad, and that's that. The energy drain and fatigue leading up to and during my period was also really significant. Your body is just running on empty, and it's hard to push through day-to-day life when you feel that way.

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

I trialled multiple contraceptive pills over the years with varying results, but eventually moving onto the Mirena is what has really helped me manage my symptoms. Outside of that, taking magnesium every day has made a difference, and keeping my dairy intake low is something I'm really conscious of. Dairy is a big trigger for me in terms of inflammation, and when I have too much, I really feel it.

What's one thing you wish more people understood about women's health?

That period pain which stops you in your tracks is not normal, and you should never be made to feel dramatic for saying so. So many women suffer in silence for years simply because they were told it was just part of being a woman. It's not.

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

Never stop advocating for yourself. There were so many moments where it would have been easier to just accept what I was told and move on. But hearing my mum constantly say "we are going to get to the bottom of this, keep going, someone will listen" made all the difference, because there were times I genuinely thought this was just something I'd have to live with forever. Eventually, someone did listen, and it changed everything.

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

Giving myself permission to rest without guilt. When my body is really struggling, I've learned that pushing through doesn't help. Sometimes the most productive thing I can do is slow down and let my body do what it needs to do. It's taken time, but I've also learned to be gentler with myself on those hard days and try not to let them define how I feel. Learning to listen to what I need, rather than fight against it, has made a real difference.

If you could go back and tell your younger self one thing about your body or your journey, what would it be?

That just because you're young doesn't mean you don't know your body and its signals, and that what you're feeling isn't just period pain. I'd also tell myself to talk about it more. It wasn't something that was really discussed back then, and I'm so grateful women's health is becoming more open, because having those conversations with friends and people around you is so important. You never know who might be going through the same thing and just needs someone to open the door. Most importantly though, no one knows your body better than you. Keep trusting that, and keep fighting for answers.