Ffion is a Welsh rugby player who has played in the 2022 World Cup and Six Nations Championships.

She was diagnosed quickly, 6 months after approaching her doctor because of rugby medical support. Her symptoms included extreme fatigue and exertional exercise flare ups of pain. She was given excisional and internal release surgery and progesterone only pills to help control flare ups.

Ffion has felt endometriosis has had a strong impact on her career, being scared to over-exert herself due to fear of flare ups, and the anxiety and mental preparation to handle this too. Training with a mostly male staff team who have little knowledge of women’s health has also made it harder as people are unaware of endometriosis and the impact it can have.

“I didn’t know what it was at the beginning, I’d never heard of it. I wish I’d known how many women suffer with it, it was only until I spoke out about it did I realise how many women it affects – yet have no support.  

It’s so important to continue to raise awareness for endometriosis and provide a support network for this incredible brave community of women. There isn’t enough research to help manage this disease, so the work undergoing in this project will make an incredible difference and change the lives of so many women.”