This is a firsthand account submitted through SWHR’s Share Your Story portal, as part of SWHR’s Women’s Health Perspective series.
My name is Jordan Kilgo, and I was diagnosed with endometriosis in the summer of 2026 at 18 years old.
Since I was 13, I have experienced severe, painful periods, and I have had terrible gastrointestinal issues (GI). I was told it was irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or acid reflux, or just part of being a woman, but I knew that it was something more. I was told I was too young to have endometriosis, but I knew endometriosis was what I had.
I went to see three different GI doctors. I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy and was told there was nothing wrong. I felt so discouraged and thought maybe it was anxiety, like I was told, and maybe it was just in my head. It was a bumpy road with lots of blood work telling me I was fine, even when some days I could barely eat, and my weight would drop during those rough times.
The first obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) I saw did not give me answers, they just told me birth control would help me. The second OB-GYN was an endometriosis specialist who helped me get answers.
It has been a rough journey since I was young, and I felt like I was not taken seriously. I knew that one day, if I kept trying, I would find the doctor who would believe me. I now want to advocate for other people’s wellness, so I created a support group called Stronger Together on GroupMe, where teens and adults don’t have to feel alone and are able to go to the community instead of feeling isolated.
Jordan’s story has been featured on the Black Women Feel Pain Too blog.