There are some women who believe that an irregular menstrual cycle is nothing more than stress. For many that is indeed the case or better yet it may mean that the joyful news that you are expecting is fast approaching. This has not been my world and I have struggled with this “condition” since I turned 12 years old. People ask me how does it feel to be me and the only response I can give them is that it is painful. I live in a world of hope despite the complications, pain, and fear of this disorder.
Endometriosis is when the lining of the uterus begins to grow in other areas of your body and can lead to pain, irregular cycles, and infertility. I know this all sounds fun but I can assure that the ramifications of telling your partner that you may not be able to have their child can lead to the most painful goodbyes. Once people find out that I am not quite as normal as they thought then I get the “maybe I can catch what she has face.”
There are ways to tackle this problem but the disorder does not ever go away and the proposed cure is to have a full-blown hysterectomy. Imagine hearing at sixteen that I have a severe form of the disorder and may want to consider having a child before I lose my chance. Now I am in my early thirties and cannot reconcile bringing a child into the world that does not have the support of two parents. This is why I chose at sixteen to ignore the doctor’s advice and live like the teenager that I was instead of the adult they wanted me to be.
Every once and a while I will have someone who knows how common the disorder can be and helpfully tell me that I should go on hormone therapy or birth control pills. I know what the treatments are and I have tried them all. Birth control pills make me physically sick regardless of the dosage and I end of having my period for 30 to 45 days. I have had several surgeries to remove scar tissue and pockets of endometrial tissue. I have taken medication to completely stop my cycle and enter this strange world of early menopause. This disorder has caused other problems that have lead to diabetes, cysts, weight gain, and depression. However, I paste a smile on my face and thank you for the advice.
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