Carol got involved with the #TALKEndo 💭 campaign through Dr Andrew Horne. They wrote a book together: Endometriosis: The Experts’ Guide to Treat, Manage and Live Well with Your Symptoms.

Carol could no longer work at the age of 39 due to her endometriosis, so she had to take medical retirement. This was a huge loss for her as she enjoyed her career in accountancy. Since retirement she has retrained as a counsellor and has served as a non-executive director in the NHS.

Endometriosis had a huge impact on Carol’s life and relationships, something that is common among sufferers of the disease.

“It is really hard to say this, but I lost confidence in my body years ago and gave up on relationships. When your experiences of sex are so painful and that is not taken seriously (my bowel was fused to my uterus – sex was absolute agony for me), I have found this really hard to come back from. I was infertile. For me, it has cut to the very core of what it means to be a woman.“