I grew up in a family of doctors and yet I was shocked to learn I had endometriosis

This First Person nonfiction is the acquisition of Ana Pontes de Azevedo, a master's of subject campaigner studying astatine the University of Saskatchewan. For much accusation astir CBC's First Person stories, delight see the FAQ. 

I vividly callback the days my older sisters got their archetypal periods. For one, it was a celebratory matter successful our location successful Brazil — our extended household gathered, and champagne was poured arsenic if they had reached a expansive milestone. 

That was not the lawsuit for me. When the time yet came wherever I got my period, I recovered myself lasting successful a schoolhouse bathroom, staring astatine the unfamiliar show successful disbelief. My archetypal thought was that it explained wherefore I had been truthful irritated the time before, simply reasoning I had premenstrual syndrome (PMS). I didn't recognize my narration with my play would not beryllium origin for celebration, but the commencement of a tumultuous travel fraught with pain.

Endometriosis is simply a chronic and inflammatory unwellness successful which cells akin to the lining of the uterus implant abnormally extracurricular the uterus and form lesions, cysts and different growths. It's an unwellness that affects astir 2 cardinal Canadians and millions much worldwide.

Ironically, I had ne'er adjacent heard of it until 2 years agone adjacent though I grew up successful a household of doctors and americium a idiosyncratic myself. But I accidental that's what happens erstwhile there's a civilization of keeping quiescent astir women's health.

Fierce and unpredictable symptom and moods 

From the start, my periods would travel with unbearable symptom and utmost temper swings. My household nicknamed maine ocelot — similar the small, fierce and unpredictable carnal recovered successful South America. 

Once, during meal galore years ago, I broke down sobbing retired of nowhere. 

When my parent asked what was wrong, each I could deliberation and accidental was, "I can't adjacent basal myself."

But I didn't understand. I didn't cognize that mean periods don't marque you faint from pain. That mean menstruation doesn't past for 7 days with dense bleeding. That mean women don't rhythm betwixt uncontrollable crying and bursts of choler wrong minutes. That mean doesn't mean suffering successful silence.

When I entered adulthood, the symptoms changed. As I moved from Brazil to prosecute my studies successful Canada successful 2019, I continued to person wellness issues. Severe migraines accompanied my periods. Pain flared during intercourse, making intimacy an ordeal alternatively than an acquisition of connection. I tried antithetic contraceptive methods, but nary provided relief  — immoderate adjacent worsened my symptoms. I knew thing was wrong, but I had nary sanction for it.

WATCH | Meet a pistillate navigating beingness with endometriosis:

Finally, a diagnosis

The pieces started to autumn into spot erstwhile my older sisters were some diagnosed with endometriosis. Given my household past and my checklist of symptoms, I knew it was lone a substance of clip earlier I, too, would person a akin diagnosis. Endometriosis is thought to person a 50 per cent familial influence.

In May 2024, erstwhile I was backmost successful Brazil for a holiday, I underwent a artillery of tests. The results confirmed what I already suspected: I had multiple points of endometriosis.

Sitting successful the doctor's office, I struggled to process the news. Words similar infertility and country swirled astir me. My parent and sister sat beside me, yet I had ne'er felt truthful alone. Why did this diagnosis consciousness similar this? 

The reply became wide with clip to me. Endometriosis is simply a woman's disease, 1 that is poorly researched and small discussed.

That loneliness wasn't conscionable personal; it was systemic.

The aftermath

Receiving a chronic unwellness diagnosis wasn't easy. It led to moments of self-doubt, guilt and anger. "Why me?" I questioned. "Did I bash thing to merit this?"

But with time, I recovered spot successful my sister Victoria, a doc and relentless advocator for women's health. Through her, I learned:

• I americium not alone.
• My endometriosis did not mean infertility oregon a decease sentence.
• My symptom is real, intense and deserves recognition.
• Endometriosis is simply a full-body disease, affecting everything from intelligence wellness to vigor levels.
• Understanding my assemblage is my top power.

Funny however beingness works. Ten years ago, I had truthful galore unanswered questions astir my body. Now, I person immoderate of the answers— but they travel with caller uncertainties, caller struggles. 

WATCH | An estimated 1 successful 10 women have endometriosis: 

Yet, I americium grateful. Unlike galore women who endure successful silence, I person the privilege of a diagnosis. But adjacent much importantly, I had idiosyncratic with a akin communicative to trust connected and trust.

These days, I enactment hard arsenic a master's pupil studying works sciences astatine the University of Saskatchewan. If anything, I enactment harder than astir due to the fact that erstwhile a month, I person to conflict with symptom that would enactment galore successful hospitals successful 5 minutes. 

I person to be meetings, execute experiments, spell to class and absorption connected maintaining my vocation goals, each portion my imaginativeness goes reddish with bursts of pain. And nary 1 knows.

But women's wellness shouldn't beryllium a taboo topic. Women's struggles are not niche.

Getting an endometriosis diagnosis has helped maine recognize who I americium not lone arsenic a sister, a daughter, a partner, but astir importantly, arsenic a woman. 

It helped recognize what my needs and wishes are. It helped maine recognize that I person a beauteous assemblage that needs to beryllium taken attraction of and trusted. And having this assemblage and accepting it conscionable arsenic it is what gives maine the courageousness to speak, and fto others who person this aforesaid conflict cognize that they are not alone.

Do you person a compelling idiosyncratic communicative that tin bring knowing oregon assistance others? We privation to perceive from you. Email [email protected] to larn more.