Woman’s Decade-Long Battle with Debilitating Pain Finally Diagnosed as Endometriosis and Adenomyosis
LONDON – A young woman’s years of excruciating pain and significant blood loss, culminating in a near-fatal hospitalisation at age 12, were finally attributed to endometriosis and adenomyosis after laparoscopic surgery in 2023.Zaynah ahmed, now a journalism student at City University, London, is sharing her story to raise awareness and encourage participation in research aimed at improving care for young people experiencing period pain.
Ahmed’s ordeal began in her early teens, marked by debilitating periods that led to severe anaemia and a harrowing experience requiring hospital treatment. Despite numerous medical consultations over the years, a definitive diagnosis remained elusive. Doctors initially struggled to pinpoint the cause of her symptoms, leaving her feeling dismissed and frustrated.
“The pain isn’t 24/7 any more,” Ahmed explained. “It’s allowed me to be able to do a lot more and just be awake longer, enjoy things a lot more.”
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it,causing pain,inflammation,and perhaps infertility. Adenomyosis occurs when endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, leading to heavy, painful periods. Both conditions can considerably impact a woman’s quality of life, and diagnosis is frequently enough delayed, with sufferers reporting an average wait time of nearly eight years.
While the surgery confirming her conditions didn’t immediatly resolve her symptoms,Ahmed found relief in finally having a name for her suffering. She is now managing her pain with a hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), a tailored diet, and exercise.
Ahmed is now actively participating in a research project through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and is urging other young people aged 18 to 24 to join the study via Be Part of Research.
“It was really significant to me to speak up and give back,” Ahmed said. ”I thought about what I would have wanted to see when I Googled it.We all do it. think about if there was someone else suffering the way you are - if your story came up,that coudl be really helpful to them.”
