Phoebe works in a high-pressure, male dominated field and has felt the impacts of endometriosis on her work life. Due to a lack of awareness on what the condition is, lots of people don’t understand the disruption endometriosis can cause. She’s felt the need to repeatedly explain and defend that what she’s experiencing is “more than just your average period pain“.

She spent years advocating for herself with medical professionals, receiving many misdiagnoses and sometimes doubting herself over whether there was actually something wrong.

Endometriosis impacts all aspects of someone’s life. For Phoebe she found it’s had a big impact on her personal life too. “Endometriosis can be isolating, sometimes leaving you unable to attend social events or keep up with others. Having day to day pain can mean it’s hard to predict if it will spoil an event in the future. You either grin and bear it or have to leave. I often feel like I’m missing out on life.”

“A project like this will make an enormous difference to the community just by existing. The overwhelming feeling that health professionals don’t care about this condition is one of the worst parts of this disability. We vitally need this research and attention to improve the diagnostic process and treatments for young women and those still searching for an answer.”