'I thought it was just part of who I was': Edinburgh woman reveals how an endometriosis diagnosis changed her life after years of pain
Maëlle Guennec is one of the millions of women across the globe suffering from a debilitating condition which took years to get diagnosed.
The 23-year-old osteopath, originally from France but now living in Edinburgh, was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2023 after years of ignoring symptoms and being dismissed by medical professionals.
She said: “I’ve always had period pain since I was 14, since I started having my periods. I knew it was different for my mum and sister, but I didn’t think much of it. I took paracetamol every month but that was it.
“And also I think my grandma had extreme period pain, my aunt as well to the point that she would vomit, so it was kind of normalised that that’s just what women go through and that’s okay. It’s just part of who you are.”
Alarm bells started ringing for Maëlle when she became sexually active with her first boyfriend.
Maëlle said: “That's when I knew something was wrong because it was a deep pain. It was a shooting pain in my belly to the point where we had to stop, it was so painful. I knew something was wrong.”
The trained osteopath added: “I started learning about anatomy, physiology, and I heard about endometriosis before. Someone told me ‘maybe you have it’ but I didn’t think much of it.
“Then starting to study, I thought that maybe that’s what it is. I was lucky because I had some level of awareness about my body, what was normal, what wasn’t normal, how to seek help - there are plenty of women who don’t have that.”
After two ultrasounds and an MRI which she waited six months for came back negative, Maëlle travelled two hours from home to a specialist gynaecology clinic where she finally got answers.
She said: “I had a vaginal examination and she was able to reproduce the pain I had during penetration. It was such a relief to feel that she believed me, that she understands my pain. It’s not just all in my head.”
Maëlle was eventually diagnosed with stage 1-2 endometriosis and went back onto a contraceptive pill she previously used to manage her symptoms.
However, she has been unable to see her gynaecologist in France since moving to Edinburgh, meaning that her symptoms are currently not being tracked by a medical professional.
With women in the UK facing a staggering average wait time of more than nine years to get a diagnosis, Maëlle began researching how to manage her symptoms for herself, as well as sharing tips with other women in Edinburgh through masterclasses led by her.
Now, Maëlle has teamed up with friend Esmé, 18, who she first met at an Edinburgh support group run by charity Endometriosis UK.
The duo are in the middle of their ‘1in10’ Challenge for Endometriosis Awareness Month, raising money for charity Endometriosis UK and raising awareness of the condition.
Maëlle and Esmé are aiming to climb 10 hills across Edinburgh and the Pentlands throughout March, having already completed three of their hillwalks.
They will attempt three more hills in Edinburgh this coming weekend, before aiming to complete four hills in the Pentlands on the final weekend in March.
The duo have launched an online fundraiser that has raised more than £700 so far. You can donate on the JustGiving website.
Maëlle said: “For me, hillwalking is easy because I’ve always been active, I’ve always been exercising, I’m at the gym three times a week because I know how much it helps me and supports my diagnosis.
“Esmé has been struggling with her symptoms because she is stage 3-4, already at 18 the symptoms are so intense.
“Hillwalking is more difficult for her. I really feel for her, so the fact she is doing it is very impressive and inspiring to me. It shows how much she wants to help other women.”
Offering advice to women who may be experiencing symptoms, Maëlle added: “Don’t normalise pain, it’s not all in your head.
“Believe in yourself and your symptoms, keep fighting to get them recognised by the medical system and healthcare. We deserve more because it’s not enough.”