Melissa’s story about finally being diagnosed with endometriosis really resonated with me… because I was one of those women too. It took me 25 years to be diagnosed. From the age of 10½, I suffered excruciating pain every month. I would almost faint, hide in the toilets at work, and feel as though someone was pulling my insides apart. Yet after three referrals to gynaecology, I was told it was IBS, my age or stress, and simply given medication that didn’t help. It wasn’t until I finally had a laparoscopy that doctors discovered I was riddled with endometriosis. Thankfully, enough was removed for me to go on and have my beautiful IVF twins. Years later, during my hysterectomy, the surgeon told me my bladder, uterus and bowel were stuck together “like concrete” because of the endometriosis. The operation took an extra 2½ hours. I often wonder how different my life might have been if someone had listened sooner. This is one of the reasons we created ivfbabble. No woman should wait d...