Anna McPartlin is an Irish novelist.

Anna first suffered problems with her endometriosis in her early 20's. "I began to suffer with kidney and bladder problems and spent a lot of time in and out of hospital undergoing treatment and investigations. From the initial symptoms, it took at least eight years for me to be diagnosed with endometriosis and this only happened due to the influence of my aunt who was a gynaecological nurse and believed my problems sounded like endometriosis. She pushed me to move from a kidney specialist to a gynaecologist."

A diagnostic laparoscopy revealed Anna had endometriosis on her bladder, uterus, abdominal wall and fallopian tubes. The surgeon removed the scar tissue and she experienced a year of no pain or bladder issues. Unfortunately, when Anna and her husband started trying for children, they found they were unable to conceive and since then, they have tried IVF and other treatments including aromatherapy, acupuncture and dietary changes.

"Although my symptoms are ongoing, I am so much better than I was before diagnosis", she says.


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