#wombstories
When I was 14 I started having periods.
They might last three days or they might last eight weeks. I might go without one for a week or for ten weeks.
I sat through my GCSE’s at 15, anaemic and leaking through my clothes because my parents didn’t care.
When I was 14 I started having periods.
They might last three days or they might last eight weeks. I might go without one for a week or for ten weeks.
I sat through my GCSE’s at 15, anaemic and leaking through my clothes because my parents didn’t care.
When I finally got my mum to take me to the GP, she tested me for chlamydia despite me telling her that I’d never had sex.
When that was negative she gave me the contraceptive pill and told me it was just my age and in a few years it would sort itself out...
When that was negative she gave me the contraceptive pill and told me it was just my age and in a few years it would sort itself out...
When I was 19 I came off the pill and waited a year to see what would happen. Nothing had changed.
I went back to my GP and told them I’d been bleeding for five weeks at that point. I asked to be investigated for PCOS.
At the scan I had one large ovarian cyst, but no PCOS.
I went back to my GP and told them I’d been bleeding for five weeks at that point. I asked to be investigated for PCOS.
At the scan I had one large ovarian cyst, but no PCOS.
My GP told me to go back on the pill since I wasn’t trying to get pregnant. She had no answer and was not interested in doing anything more.
I went back on the pill till I was 25. My pill periods were agony, they were not light and I had migraines but at least I wasn’t...
I went back on the pill till I was 25. My pill periods were agony, they were not light and I had migraines but at least I wasn’t...
Bleeding for 8 weeks.
I came off the pill at 25 and waited a year. Nothing had changed. I saw a new GP in a new place and they wanted to check for PCOS. I told them I knew I didn’t have it.
At the scan the tech found one 9cm ovarian cyst but no evidence of PCOS.
I came off the pill at 25 and waited a year. Nothing had changed. I saw a new GP in a new place and they wanted to check for PCOS. I told them I knew I didn’t have it.
At the scan the tech found one 9cm ovarian cyst but no evidence of PCOS.
I asked to be investigated further and my GP said that all my blood tests (taken on a random day) were normal so I should just go back on the pill and forget about it.
No one was worried about the cysts and I went back on the pill as my only relief from my problem.
No one was worried about the cysts and I went back on the pill as my only relief from my problem.
I met my husband and I told him I might never get pregnant and that I had no explanation of why.
At 32 I came off the pill to try and get pregnant. Between relentless bleeding I spent a year monitoring my temperature and using ovulation tests. I knew I wasn’t ovulating.
At 32 I came off the pill to try and get pregnant. Between relentless bleeding I spent a year monitoring my temperature and using ovulation tests. I knew I wasn’t ovulating.
I saw a new GP with my evidence of anovulation. She laughed at my use of an expensive temping gadget. She told me that I’d already been investigated so she would not order more tests.
She told me to come back in another year for an infertility referral.
She told me to come back in another year for an infertility referral.
I managed four months and saw a different GP. When I told him I’d been bleeding for 92 days he made the referral.
Eight months later I saw a gynaecologist for the first time in my life. He matter of factly told me that I had anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)
Eight months later I saw a gynaecologist for the first time in my life. He matter of factly told me that I had anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)
And that I’d probably never ovulated.
Bizarrely he then told me that I still had to wait the full 2yrs of trying to get pregnant before any further treatment would be given.
Unless it related to childbearing, my period problems and suffering were irrelevant.
Bizarrely he then told me that I still had to wait the full 2yrs of trying to get pregnant before any further treatment would be given.
Unless it related to childbearing, my period problems and suffering were irrelevant.
He did send me for an ultrasound to check for cysts. I had another 8cm cyst and only when pressed did the tech admit that I only had one other active follicle (normal for my age would be 15-20).
My ovaries were noted as “quiet”, but I was still expected to keep trying...
My ovaries were noted as “quiet”, but I was still expected to keep trying...
I did my own scientific research and effectively diagnosed myself with probable diminished ovarian reserve and anovulation.
I used my savings to go private. I told the gynaecologist my suspicions and she decided to reserve judgement and start from scratch.
I used my savings to go private. I told the gynaecologist my suspicions and she decided to reserve judgement and start from scratch.
She saw a new cyst on an ultrasound. She did a laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, tubal dye test and biopsy, confirming; no PCOS, no endometriosis, open tubes, no fibroids and my uterine lining indicated no ovulation.
At the follow up she exclaimed her surprise that I wasn’t pregnant.
At the follow up she exclaimed her surprise that I wasn’t pregnant.
She finally agreed to test my progesterone on days 21, 28 and 35 to confirm ovulation... it was negative.
She gave me Clomid to induce ovulation and it didn’t work, but I did make another 7cm cyst.
Suddenly I was fast tracked to the long awaited fertility clinic.
She gave me Clomid to induce ovulation and it didn’t work, but I did make another 7cm cyst.
Suddenly I was fast tracked to the long awaited fertility clinic.
At the fertility clinic I met a new gynaecologist.
Within the first five minutes she told me that I’d simply been on the pill too much in my life and that I just had to wait longer for my cycle to normalise.
She hadn’t read my notes. She only knew my name.
Within the first five minutes she told me that I’d simply been on the pill too much in my life and that I just had to wait longer for my cycle to normalise.
She hadn’t read my notes. She only knew my name.
This time I ranted. I cried and she said perhaps we should end the appointment. I demanded she read my notes.
“Oh you’ve had surgery already?”, “Oh you’ve tried Clomid already??”, “Why did you get those done?”
She agreed to induce a period and do a day 3 scan.
“Oh you’ve had surgery already?”, “Oh you’ve tried Clomid already??”, “Why did you get those done?”
She agreed to induce a period and do a day 3 scan.
I had an 8cm cyst and two small follicles. Her face dropped. She typed furiously on the computer ordering up blood tests. She muttered “this just doesn’t make and sense” and “but the bloods are normal?!”
The AMH test confirmed diminished ovarian reserve. 9 months after I knew.
The AMH test confirmed diminished ovarian reserve. 9 months after I knew.
20 years after menarche I had medical professionals take my situation seriously.
I had to fight and cry and pay.
This is women’s health.
This is my #wombstories
I had to fight and cry and pay.
This is women’s health.
This is my #wombstories
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