From Silent Pain to Loud Advocacy: A Journey with Endo
For years, I stayed quiet.
I told myself it was normal — that periods were supposed to hurt, that fatigue was just part of life, that maybe I was just weak. Doctors told me the same. I was passed from specialist to specialist, given pills I didn’t need, and sent home with pain that refused to go away.
This is the story of how I went from silenced by pain to fighting for change.
It’s not just mine — it belongs to millions living with endometriosis.
The Silence We’re Taught
Many of us are raised to believe that talking about periods is “too much.” That we’re overreacting. That we should smile through the pain and carry on.
So we do.
We show up at work, school, family events — doubled over in pain, quietly bleeding through clothing, fighting waves of nausea or exhaustion. And when we finally speak up? We’re told it’s “just part of being a woman.”
That silence is not strength. It’s survival.
“On average, it takes 7.5 years to get a diagnosis of endometriosis in the UK” (Endometriosis UK, 2024).
For many, those are seven years of being dismissed, disbelieved, or misdiagnosed.
The Turning Point
For me, the turning point wasn’t dramatic. It was a slow, growing refusal to keep pretending.
I found one blog post that described my symptoms exactly. Then another. Then I saw someone say “endometriosis” out loud — not in a doctor’s office, but on Instagram. It was the first time I realised I wasn’t alone.
I started learning. I started questioning. And then, finally, I was diagnosed.
The Rage. The Grief. The Fuel.
When I finally had a name for it — endometriosis — I felt relief… but also anger.
Why had no one believed me? Why had I been left to suffer in silence for so long?
That rage became fuel. That grief became purpose.
And that’s when silence turned into advocacy.
What Advocacy Looks Like (Big and Small)
You don’t have to stand on a stage or run a charity to be an advocate.
Advocacy can look like:
- Telling your story on social media
- Correcting misinformation when you hear it
- Supporting someone else through their diagnosis
- Writing to your MP about the state of women’s healthcare
- Donating to or volunteering for organisations like Endometriosis UK
- Simply saying: “I believe you” when someone else shares their pain
Why It Matters
Raising awareness isn’t about attention. It’s about saving years of pain for someone else. It’s about making sure no one has to wait nearly a decade for a diagnosis. It’s about helping people feel seen, supported, and empowered.
In a 2023 report, over 62% of respondents said their mental health was severely impacted by delayed diagnosis and lack of support (RCOG, 2023).
This has to change — and our voices are part of how it will.
From Quiet to Courageous
I still have bad days. I still live with endo. But I no longer carry it in silence.
Now, I speak up — not just for myself, but for the girl who’s Googling her symptoms at 2am. For the colleague quietly gritting her teeth at her desk. For the teenager being told it’s just growing pains.
Because she deserves better.
We all do.
Final Thoughts
If you’re still in the silent part of your journey, know this: your pain is valid, your voice matters, and when you’re ready, we’ll be here — your Endo Tribe — cheering you on as you speak your truth.
From pain can come power.
From silence can come strength.
From one voice can come a movement.
References
- Endometriosis UK (2024). Diagnosis Delay Statistics. [online] Available at: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org [Accessed 7 Aug. 2025].
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) (2023). Better for Women Report: Endometriosis Findings. [online] Available at: https://www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed 7 Aug. 2025].
- NHS (2023). Endometriosis Overview. [online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/endometriosis/ [Accessed 7 Aug. 2025].
