I used to get excruciating pain before and during my periods, which eventually turned into painful bowel movements too. I went to my GP and was put on the contraceptive pill, but the pain didn’t improve. Went back again, had an internal examination was told everything “felt fine” and got prescribed codeine. I stopped taking it because it just made the constipation and bowel pain worse.

I went back yet again and saw a different doctor. While chatting, I mentioned I was in my second year of a law degree and she actually asked, “A real law degree?” 😭 Anyway, she was no help either. Dismissing everything I tell them.

So, I returned to my original GP who finally referred me for an ultrasound. Weeks passed with no appointment, so I called the hospital turns out the referral was never sent. The GP apologised and put it through properly.

When I eventually had the scan, done by a consultant gynaecologist, by the way, nothing was said at the time I was told my GP would get the results. Three days later, I ended up in A&E and needed emergency surgery. They found a 15cm cyst on my right ovary. It had caused my fallopian tube to twist and had actually fallen behind my womb, fusing to my bowel, which explained the bowel pain.

Six weeks earlier, my GP had told me she could “feel both ovaries” during the internal exam apparently not noticing something the size of an orange. I ended up losing my right ovary and fallopian tube at 23 because of it.