Zoe’s egg freezing experience
Zoe first started to experience endometriosis symptoms in her early teens, but it took another 10 years before she finally got a diagnosis, despite studying for a healthcare degree. She explains the impact that the diagnosis had on her, including increased anxiety regarding her fertility, and why she decided to undergo egg freezing at Aria Fertility.
Graduating from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and one of my first days at King’s College Hospital
Living with endometriosis symptoms
I began to experience symptoms around the age of 14, with very heavy, painful period pains. When I was about 18, I finally started undergoing investigations, but it wasn’t until I was 24 that I received a diagnosis.
I was put on tranexamic acid, which is a non-hormonal medication used to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding, and they tried different injections and medications, but nothing worked.
During this time, I even ended up in A&E with pain and bleeding, and the nurse said it was probably a miscarriage.
I was working in women’s health, specifically gynaecology and breast surgery, and we were carrying out laparoscopies on endometriosis patients daily. Despite all this, it still took such a long time to get my own diagnosis.
Wonderful memories from my time travelling around Australia and one of me volunteering in Zambia
The impact of my endometriosis diagnosis
When I did get diagnosed, I had just broken up with my boyfriend at the time and was planning to go travelling to Australia. While I was in recovery, the doctor said, “If I were you, I wouldn’t wait too long to have children.”
It all felt like the worst timing. I was 24 years old and at a point in my life when I wasn’t really considering my fertility.
After my laparoscopy
Working in healthcare during the COVID pandemic
Considering my fertility
Being told that just put a whole level of anxiety and pressure on top of being diagnosed with a chronic condition. I feel that if egg freezing had been presented to me as an option at that point, it would have relieved much of that future concern.
Fortunately, fertility preservation is now more widely discussed.
There’s a lot of societal pressure, particularly when you reach 30, and all your friends are settling down and planning families. I struggled when my friends started having children, as I felt I didn’t want their pity.
I did go travelling in Australia. On my return, I worked in operating theatres and Intensive Care Units and eventually found myself moving into fertility care.
As the operating theatre manager here at Aria Fertility, I look after many of our patients going through egg or embryo freezing.
After I’d had the coil fitted, my bleeding had improved, and I felt like I had my life back a bit. I think I could then finally admit to myself that I had put my head in the sand about my own fertility.
Being confronted with it every day at work meant I started to take it a bit more seriously. Or certainly the importance of having a plan B as a single woman.
I decided to undergo egg freezing to create that breathing space and relax about the future, particularly given my individual circumstances. I was single, had endometriosis, and, on investigation, my AMH level was quite low.
Joining Aria Fertility as their theatre operating manager
Choosing egg freezing
Honestly, I think egg freezing is the best decision I’ve ever made. It’s given me options – even if a future partner and I have fertility issues, then I have that back-up. I’ve got these eggs ready in the freezer.
With hindsight, I wish I’d had the confidence to advocate for myself more.
Getting my endometriosis diagnosis felt like a game of Snakes and Ladders. I felt like I would almost get to the top, and you’d reach that snake and head straight back down to the bottom again. Then you might find an amazing consultant who believes in you, and you’d shoot straight back up to the top, and you’d nearly get diagnosed.
I just wish that I’d had confidence in myself to challenge and self-advocate rather than just listening to the professionals, and I possibly would have got an early diagnosis.
I also wish I had known more about egg freezing and just having a bit more awareness of fertility itself. You might have family members who have gone through fertility treatment, but typically, you don’t really have a full understanding of what it is, and it can seem quite scary.
I do think the education around women’s health and fertility is improving. Whether that’s understanding the importance of preconception and eating the right diet, taking the right supplements and lowering stress levels to improve your chances.
I hope that there is also a better process for women getting an endometriosis diagnosis and the help they need at an earlier stage.
