To patients: If you feel that something is wrong, listen to your intuition, and keep searching until you find doctors who can help.
I was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis, a severe form of the disease that had spread beyond the reproductive organs and affected other parts of my body.
For the third year in a row, SWHR was pleased to present three SWHR Emerging Scholars in Women’s Health Research Awards at the OSSD 2026 Annual Meeting this May.
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.
My hope is for more clarity on any long-term side effects – and for doctors, patients, researchers, and funders to support this much needed research so that other women can possibly avoid the pain I have experienced, both physical and mental, which also affects their partners, families, friends and colleagues who care about them.
I encourage others to advocate for themselves and explore options that fit their individual needs. Black women especially need to prioritize their health and well-being.
For over a decade, I lived with unrelenting pelvic pain, fatigue, and digestive issues that were repeatedly misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and anxiety
In my early twenties I survived two pulmonary embolism (PE) incidences.
Ever since my late teens, I had irregular and painful periods. I didn't know this was unusual.