I wish… 

I wish people knew that endometriosis is unique to the individual and that the pain is REAL. 
I wish that people knew that birth control, pregnancy, or the removal of reproductive organs does not cure it. 
I wish that people knew that endometriosis is systemic and affects the whole body - not just the reproductive system, that it is unpredictable, and that pain can strike at any moment. 
I wish people knew that most doctors including gynaecologists barely know anything about endometriosis, that it can take a lifetime to diagnose, and that it affects every aspect of a person's life (including but not limited to relationships with family and friends, careers, school, participation in sports and leisure, etc).
I wish that people knew that endometriosis can contribute to anxiety, depression, and sometimes thoughts of suicide and that it can make you feel like a prisoner in your own body. 
I wish that people knew that endometriosis can be associated with autoimmune disorders and may slightly increase the risk of ovarian, breast, and cervical cancers. 
I had 11 miscarriages and consulted 22 gynaecologists before I was formally diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 47. 
I was 14 years old when I experienced my first symptoms of endometriosis. 
It took 33 years to find a gynaecologist who took my complaints seriously. 

It affects every aspect of a person's life