Teen Endometriosis Pain Ignored by Doctors

A 14-year-old from Yorkshire, Grace, endured years of severe pain, often requiring hospital visits and strong painkillers, before receiving a diagnosis of endometriosis. She felt doctors were dismissive, attributing her excruciating symptoms to "bad periods" or anxiety, and wrongly believing adolescents could not suffer from the condition. This delay in diagnosis is common, with an average of nine years for older women, and can significantly impact fertility, with Grace warned about potential issues after age 30.

Medical experts acknowledge that while nearly 80% of adolescents experience painful periods, clinicians must recognize when symptoms are beyond normal, such as missing school monthly or being bedbound. The charity Endometriosis UK emphasizes the need for improved menstrual health education for young people. New diagnostic tests are being developed to help spot endometriosis earlier, especially in teenagers where it may not show on ultrasounds. Grace hopes her story empowers other young people to advocate for their pain and seek diagnosis.