Her period cramps were so painful shed regularly miss school.
But her official diagnosis wouldnt come until six years later when she was 19.
During her bachelorette party in Las Vegas, she recalls, I was in so much pain.
Photo by Yaël Krinsky
Going to the bathroom was so painful.
I was sweating and taking my clothes off.
I was curled up in bed, taking shots, and doing my makeup.
Anna Brown before surgery in 2022
Anna Brown before surgery in 2022
Unfortunately, stories like Annas are not unique.
So what is it really like to live with endometriosis, and what does the future hold for treatment?
Endometriosis is a chronic reproductive condition characterized by abnormal growth of uterine tissue outside of the uterus.
Jade Williams, post-surgery, in December 2024
Common endometriosis symptoms include painful periods, as well as pain during sex, urination, or bowel movements.
Temporary treatment and managementoptionsinclude painkillers and birth control pills, which can decrease the growth of endometriosis tissue.
I started having symptoms probably at 14 or 15, she says.
Yaël Krinsky preparing for surgery
I was not diagnosed until I was 30 years old.
I didnt really have period symptoms, she continues.
I had extreme gastrointestinal issues.
Yaël Krinsky crying, in pain, over her symptoms
I had diarrhea every day for over 10 years, not one formed stool.
I was not able to have a sex life or relationships.
I looked bloated to the point that I looked pregnant.
Leilani McQuay, 4 months pregnant.
Her symptoms started at 13 years old, but she was only officially diagnosed last year.
Im not able to eat or get out of bed for two full days at a time.
Even then, she says,shehad to chase to find out what they said.
Anna Brown with bandages over her stitches following her third surgery in 2022
To remove the cysts, she underwent laparoscopic surgery.
Would it have gotten to the point of me needing to be completely gutted open?
Im still processing the surgery, relearning my body, and regaining my core strength.
Anna Brown with stitches after her first surgery in 2017
Today we now know that there is no racial predisposition for endometriosis.
That was the level of desperation shed reached.
One day his wife says, Are you sure you don’t have endometriosis?
And I said, No, theres no way.
I dont have that.
I dont have that.
I was in denial.
Eventually she got an official diagnosis via a laparoscopy that aimed to remove all of her endometriosis cells.
I was overcome with grief.
Its like, for 10 to 12 years, youre told that youre not seeing the world in blue.
you oughta take this medicine.
You start questioning yourself.
Theres something so insane about something being tangible and being invisible.
Endometriosis steals your life, Yael says.
And it has stolen mine.
Glamours commerce producer Leilani McQuay was diagnosed with endometriosis at 19, but her symptoms began in high school.
I remember missing school because of my period, she says.
But I didnt want to tell him how bad it was hurting.
Is this how sex is supposed to be?
Yael also recalls having similar challenges when engaging in sexual intercourse.
Crying, screaming in pain, never feeling safe or comfortable.
Studies indicate that more than half of people with endometriosis experience dyspareuniathat is, vaginal pain during sex.
A doctor told me that I would be infertile because I have endometriosis, she says.
I remember, thinking, Okay, so Im just not going to have kids.
I remember going through my whole 20s thinking, I dont even want kids anyway; I dont care.
Just trying to dismiss it.
For Leilani, now 29, that was the case.
So Ive been struggling a little bit.
The reality is that endometriosis research is severely underfunded in the United States.
In 2022 only $16 million in funding wasallocated for endometriosisfrom the National Institutes of Health.
Advocating for more research and equity in endometriosis will be an uphill battle.
However, its imperative that health care providers across specialties familiarize themselves with presenting endometriosis symptoms.
which can manifest in different organ systems.
It shouldnt be the patients responsibility to fight to be heard or believed about their pain.
But they refuse to give up.
I don’t feel 100%, but I feel a little bit better.
You have to just take those small wins.
