Melissa Brady, a 40-year-old woman from Derry, shares her decades-long struggle with endometriosis, a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus grows on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other areas within the pelvis. It took 12 years for Melissa to receive a diagnosis despite suffering from severe symptoms such as chronic lower abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, fatigue, vomiting, and excruciating bowel movements. She emphasises the need for better awareness and faster diagnosis of endometriosis in the UK, which affects at least one in 10 women but takes eight to nine years to receive a diagnosis. Melissa calls for improved training for GPs and the removal of the treatment plan of ‘just get pregnant’. She also highlights the mental health toll of living with endometriosis and the importance of support groups.