Since I was 13, quarter of my life has been taken by debilitating pain, brushed off as ‘you’re a girl, deal with it’. And so, for 12 years, I did. I dealt with waking up in the middle of the night with drenched sheets and vomiting. With spending 7 days every month curled up on the cold bathroom tiles and screaming while my stomach, back and legs felt like they were being stabbed over and over again. I dealt with passing out, 2am visits to the emergency ward, missing out on big events; I dealt with it for a quarter of my life, until when a few months ago, those 7 days of the month turned instead into every. single. Day. This week, I underwent surgery, where I woke up to the confirmation of severe endometriosis and adenomyosis- both progressive disorders of endometrial tissue, and considered to be in the top 10 most painful health conditions in the world. There is no cure, the cause is unknown, and despite it being the largest women’s health crisis of our time, the lack of education and care for AFAB people in the medical field means the average time to get a diagnosis is 10 years, with 2/3 people being misdiagnosed first, leading 50% of endometriosis sufferers to suffer from infertility, 1/6 losing their jobs, and excessive bleeding, pain (even when not on your period), fatigue and overall reduced quality of life being just a few things that we go through each and every day. In a culture where AFAB folk are taught to believe that pain is normal and to be silent, it is vital that we speak up when we know something isn’t right. My fight with endometriosis and adenomyosis are far from over; but, just as I did when I learned new things about my other aspects of myself, I now can look to a future where I can better understand and look after my body. This body is mine. She’s a bit broken, and hell, she’s collecting new words like Pokémon, but I’m determined to look after her and give her everything I’ve got. Fellow endo and adeno warriors, you are not alone. You are strong as hell. I’m fighting for a cure, for voices to be heard every second from here on out 💛 (Just as soon as the pain meds wear off and I stop hallucinating dinosaurs. BRB in 3-5 business days xox)