It’s like getting stabbed in the stomach over and over again. It’s the kind of sharp sensation that doubles you over or makes you throw up when it comes out of the blue. My period pain doesn’t respond to painkillers and hot water bottles, so I’ve had to take countless days off work and school over the years; often, curling up in a ball and waiting for the pain to subside is the only option.

It’s been this way since I started my period in primary school. I’ve been to the doctor countless times over the years, but when I started perimenopause at age 38 and my periods became longer and more unpredictable, I knew something had to change. It was at that point that I first started thinking about a hysterectomy. Seeking out such a huge operation as a self-employed person felt like a big risk (long recovery time = no pay), but it reached the point where I couldn’t live with the pain any longer. Five years on, and I’m still waiting for my hysterectomy.

“My period pain is excruciating, so why has it taken so long to get my hysterectomy request taken seriously?”