14-Year-Old Grace Wins Endometriosis Diagnosis After Years of Dismissed Pain
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 23
14-Year-Old Grace Wins Endometriosis Diagnosis After Years of Dismissed Pain
2 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 23
Summary
Grace, 14, was diagnosed with endometriosis only after her family sought a second private opinion, following repeated claims that she was too young to have the condition.
By 13, her period pain was so severe she was repeatedly taken to hospital, sometimes given morphine, while earlier explanations ranged from IBS and anxiety to "just a bad period."
Grace has since had a laparoscopy to remove endometriosis and has been advised to use hormonal contraception to slow tissue growth; she has also been warned the disease could affect her fertility.
About 10% of women have endometriosis, and Endometriosis UK says it can develop once periods begin, yet diagnosis still takes an average of nine years in older women and can be harder in teenagers because early disease may not show on ultrasound.
Doctors and campaigners say painful periods are common in adolescents, but symptoms that disrupt school, sport or friendships should trigger investigation rather than dismissal.