“Your best options are: a hysterectomy - which is a bit drastic for your age; serial pregnancies - probably not the best idea; an injection every six weeks that you (hopefully) won’t react negatively to – as it’s still in your system for two years after you stop injecting it; or just continue the best you can with how you are now.”

That’s what my GP said to me in February last year. I was 23 years old.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and I’m taking part in the “1 in 10” Challenge by Endometriosis UK. 1 in 10 women suffer from endometriosis, a chronic and often debilitating condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body. There is no cure, nor any real treatment options.

I was almost one of them. It took me 12 years to get even remotely close to the support I needed: 12 years of fighting so hard to be heard, and 12 years of debilitating agony. I am not unusual.

Therefore, alongside this fundraising link, I will be writing 10 social media posts across March to raise awareness of the impact it can have. These posts will contain a mix of facts and my personal experiences, with the aim to save other young girls experiencing what I went through: dismissal and suffering at every turn.

Whether you are able to donate or not, please follow along the series and learn something new about a condition so rarely spoken of. Even if it’s just £10 in acknowledgement of the ‘1 in 10’, that £10 from each of you would go a long way. For those who do donate, from the very bottom of my heart, thank you so so much – I can’t begin to explain what it means to me! 💛💜