‘You’re not alone’ One women fights the stigma around endometriosis

According to figures released by The Endometriosis Association of Ireland, approximately 10% of Irish women suffer from the condition and yet there remains a distinct lack of conversation around the topic.

But we're not alone. Women all across the world face difficulties in getting their symptoms acknowledged, and often feel isolated when a diagnosis is made.

However, in an effort to break the stigma, one American woman has taken to Instagram to share the truth about living with endometriosis, a condition whereby a woman’s endometrial lining grows outside of the uterus.

Thessy Kouzoukas, a creative director and co-owner of the fashion brand Sabo Skirt, posted two side-by-side pictures showing the extent to which her condition effects her body.

The two photographs, taken just five weeks apart, demonstrate a vast difference in the size of Thessy's stomach.

 

This is quite shocking to people. This is me. This is endometriosis. I never intended to share these photos hence why I'm naked, but my god I can't believe the amount of DM's I've received from girls who have endo too and feel alone. The left is my stomach 3 weeks after a ruptured cyst (5 weeks ago). The right is me now, on a drug called "synarel" that has stopped all my hormones and sent me into menopause at the age of 27. My upcoming trip to Greece along with this drug is in hopes to get me prepped and in the best condition both physically and mentally for an operation I'm receiving in late August. Endo is no joke. I'll be operated on for 7+ hours and hospitalised for a week. Please, spread the word about endo. And If you know anyone with bad period pain PLEASE tell them to get checked for this. And to my girls with endo.. you're not alone

A post shared by Thessy Kouzoukas (@thessy.k) on Jul 11, 2017 at 4:10pm PDT

This isn't the first time the 27-year-old has opened up her condition.

Earlier this year, she penned an incredibly honest piece for The Huffington Post, in which she described the unbearable abdominal pain experienced by endometriosis sufferers.

It read: “When I first got my period as a young teenager, I got labelled 'lazy' when I couldn't participate in certain sports at school, or 'drama queen' when I would take days off school because I was doubled over in the shower trying desperately to find relief from abdominal pain."

"We aren't told how much pain should be considered tolerable, or when too much pain could be an indication of something worse, like Endometriosis.”

For more information on endometriosis, visit www.endometriosis.ie.