period pains for more than two decades.“I had extremely painful periods to the point where I was on the couch in the fetal position, sweating and still, after going to the doctor numerous times, I was told to deal with it with over-the-counter medications, which really didn’t do much,” the 50-year-old said.She had pain in her bladder and other symptoms that got worse over time, she said. “I had difficulty conceiving, difficult pregnancies.
I had miscarriages.”She even had to quit her teaching job because of the pain, she said. Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women – here’s how to recognize the symptoms But even though she sought help, doctor after doctor brushed off her concerns.“I felt so dismissed most of the time,” she said.