02/03/2026
For those of you that want to know why mental health and its links to physical health are so important to me as is advocating for better access to women’s health services, baby loss awareness, and supporting those with chronic pain conditions and disabilities then please feel free to read the below. 🪷
I’m 1 in 10 of the women affected by endometriosis and I count myself lucky because I am having a hysterectomy this year.
It took 4 years for diagnosis, 2 miscarriages, and impacted my work, my home life and my mental health. 2 years after my laparoscopic surgery, adenomyosis was also found growing outside of my womb. I also have ankylosing spondylitis which makes my symptoms worse because my pelvis, spine, back and legs are in a constant state of excruciating pain that includes stabbing, shooting, burning, and numbness. As a result I experience fatigue and sleep disruption most days and the pain medication I am prescribed causes poor concentration, affects my memory and has contributed to my weight gain.
I have tried many different treatment options from the contraceptive pill, the coil and have had injections to shrink the endometriosis tissue in my womb.
On top of this, I experience urinary frequency and at times bladder and bowel incontinence.
Endometriosis isn’t just a bad period, and women are now waiting up to 10 years to be diagnosed, that’s before anyone does anything close to trying to help.
I don’t think this is good enough and I don’t want to see other women and girls, and my own daughter (there is a genetic link) go through this experience.
You can help others by finding out more about the condition, really listen to the women and girls in your life who are experiencing similar issues and help them to get support through their GP, gynaecologist and other amazing charity organisations like Endometriosis UK.
Please donate to my justgiving page if you can 🙏
https://www.justgiving.com/page/rebecca-cross-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=020