"Problem not addressed."

I would like to start this by expressing how grateful I am for the NHS. I consider myself to be a very lucky person to be able to receive free healthcare, I have no idea where I would be without this.

However, I am also writing this to express a clear issue within the NHS, and how this affects so many people who menstruate. I have decided to come forward with my experience at this specific clinic.

By reading other reviews on this website and speaking with other people, I know I am not alone in this issue.

Ever since I started having periods, I have had debilitating, excruciating cramps. Alongside this, I have suffered extremely heavy periods- to the point of flooding a pad in less than 1hr. I have had to miss out on so many days in university due to these pains. Pains that cause nausea and cause me to be bed ridden for the first few days of my period.

Every doctor I have seen about this issue has never wanted to discuss the possibility of endometriosis. The only thing they have persisted in giving me is contraception. I have been brought down, made to feel stupid and been patronised by so many doctors.

I finally had one doctor listen to me. They put me on the waiting list for a gynaecology appointment. For the first time in years, I was heard. I thought this was the start of change, but my appointment was no different from any other at my GP.

When I attended my appointment, I was asked to describe what issues I have been facing. The doctor then said the following in an extremely patronising way; We could do 2 things in this situation. 1) Do nothing. Or 2) we can change up your method of contraception and try another.

After trying to explain that I don't want to try more contraception options as I feel there are deeper issues going on. I was met with a harsh and almost angry response, that Even if we did the laparoscopic surgery to diagnose you with endometriosis, we would still use contraception methods to help this!

I then began to sob. Again, I was left feeling unheard. This wasn't a discussion about my health needs. It was one-sided and degrading.

She then asked me again after my examination if I want to go ahead with another contraception method, I said I would need time to think about it. However, at the end of my appointment I was handed a few leaflets along with this a prescription for the contraception method I said I needed time to think about. Looking back on this I should have been more aware of what they handed me, but in that moment, I was feeling overwhelmed and not able to think straight.

I feel due to me being younger in age, my pain was overlooked. As if I don’t know what normal period pains are and I'm exaggerating. In the leaflets I was handed, I received leaflets on pelvic pain and heavy periods as if I don’t know what that is.

My whole experience here was very degrading and I left not feeling listened to, nor having the problem addressed.