Birmingham Mother's Decade-Long Endometriosis Battle Dismissed as Painful Periods
A young mother from the West Midlands is courageously sharing her harrowing medical journey after doctors repeatedly dismissed her severe endometriosis symptoms as merely painful periods for over a decade. Kirsten Laycock, now 29, endured chronic pain, debilitating fatigue, and irregular bleeding throughout her teenage years and early twenties before finally receiving a diagnosis at age 23.
A Decade of Suffering and Medical Neglect
Kirsten's menstrual difficulties began when she was just 15 years old. "There was no pattern," she explained. "I had really heavy periods with severe stomach pains and headaches, or no periods at all." Medical professionals initially prescribed the contraceptive pill, which provided temporary relief. However, when Kirsten attended university, her symptoms intensified dramatically.
The pain became so severe that it forced her to take a year away from her architecture degree to focus on her deteriorating health. Upon returning to studies, the situation worsened further. "I had no energy. I started bleeding randomly to the point where I couldn't go out anywhere or do anything. It was affecting my studies," Kirsten recalled.
Throughout this period, Kirsten and her mother Nicola—a nurse specializing in women's health—consulted between 15 and 20 different doctors seeking answers. Repeatedly, they received the same dismissive response: periods can be painful, that's simply how it is for women.
The Emotional Toll of Being Dismissed
One particularly devastating moment occurred when Kirsten requested her medical notes and discovered that during an A&E visit, staff had documented her as "aggressive." This characterization came after a doctor laughed at her concerns, stating that many women experience painful periods.
When Kirsten met her partner Elliot Lascelles, now 32, he became a fierce advocate alongside her, pushing for her health concerns to be taken seriously. "To get help you have to be so persistent," Elliot said. "It felt like we were getting nowhere." The couple visited A&E numerous times when Kirsten's pain became intolerable, only to be dismissed repeatedly by medical professionals.
Breakthrough Diagnosis and Urgent Intervention
Fortunately, one doctor finally listened and referred Kirsten for an exploratory laparoscopy. However, the waiting list stretched to 24 months—time Kirsten didn't have. By this point, her BMI had dropped to a dangerous 16.9, and her health was declining rapidly.
Desperate for answers, Kirsten's mother Nicola—who worked at TFP GCRM Fertility—asked colleagues to examine her daughter's case. A consultant specializing in female reproductive health reviewed Kirsten's records and invited her to Glasgow for an urgent appointment the very next day.
"I was terrified and exhausted. But I also felt lucky because someone was finally listening to me," Kirsten remembered.
Scans revealed devastating findings:
- Kirsten's ovaries were smaller than average and contained cysts
- Clear indications of endometriosis were present
- Her AMH level (measuring ovarian reserve) was only 5, significantly below the 13-53 range expected for her age
Extensive Endometriosis and Fertility Challenges
Due to the consultant's intervention, Kirsten's NHS laparoscopy was expedited. During the operation, surgeons discovered endometrial tissue had spread extensively throughout her reproductive system and beyond:
- Endometrial tissue was found on her bladder, urethra, kidney, and both ovaries
- Deep endometrial nodules were discovered on her bowel (which couldn't be treated)
- A cyst on her left ovary was drained
At just 23 years old, Kirsten and Elliot faced the harsh reality that if they wanted to start a family, they couldn't afford to delay. With impaired ovaries, reduced ovarian reserve, and advancing endometriosis, their fertility window was rapidly closing.
The IVF Journey to Parenthood
Not eligible for NHS-funded IVF due to their slim conception prospects, the couple opted for private treatment with TFP GCRM Fertility. Living in Coventry, much of their "long distance" IVF journey was handled remotely, with medication sent to their home and monitoring scans conducted at TFP Oxford Fertility.
The process wasn't without complications. Just before their scheduled egg retrieval in Glasgow, tests revealed Kirsten's body wasn't ready for the procedure. She required additional injections to help mature her eggs, extending their stay in Scotland to eight days.
Ultimately, seven eggs were collected, resulting in one grade A embryo and one grade C embryo. The grade A embryo was transferred into Kirsten's uterus, and ten days later, a pregnancy test confirmed the joyful news. Weeks later, a scan brought even more remarkable news—the couple were expecting twins.
Motherhood and Ongoing Advocacy
Their daughters, Xaviera and Alaia, arrived prematurely at 33 weeks. Today, the lively three-year-old toddlers keep their parents well and truly occupied. While Kirsten's symptoms continue to resurface during times of stress or fatigue, they no longer routinely disrupt her everyday life.
Reflecting on her experience, Kirsten describes the emotional burden of being dismissed as among the most challenging aspects of her journey: "It's crazy looking back on how I dealt with it all mentally."
Elliot hopes their experience will inspire others to trust their instincts: "With endometriosis, the hardest thing is that it is so often overlooked. That's just not right. We want to share our story as there are women out there (and men) who have fertility problems. If you identify things that are going wrong early enough, you can do something about it."
Kirsten adds with gratitude: "The journey I've been on means everything to me, because now I'm a mum to two beautiful, healthy little girls." Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of taking women's health concerns seriously and the resilience required to navigate a medical system that too often dismisses chronic pain as normal female experience.
