Endometriosis dating – Freezing eggs, fatigue and unsexy topics

It was only their third date that Sophie and her new love, Dillon, visited a fertility clinic.

The pair have previously discussed intimacy with a chronic illness, egg freezing and other “unsexy topics.”

For 29-year-old Sophie Richards, these early conversations were just part of the daunting prospect of finding love. endometriosismay cause infertility.

This means that cells similar to the cells on the lining of the womb (uterus) also grow in other parts of the body; This can lead to symptoms such as menstrual pain, fatigue, as well as pain in the lower abdomen and back.

When Sophie first met her now fiancé, Wales rugby international Dillon Lewis, she felt she needed to be in the spotlight.

She was freezing her eggs at the time; This was a process she initiated due to possible fertility issues resulting from her endometriosis.

“It can be very challenging, especially when it’s endometriosis or a chronic condition or infertility issues like I’m dealing with,” Sophie said.

“How do you explain this to someone new and hope it doesn’t scare them away?”

Even though he was uncomfortable, he brought it up immediately after the meeting.

“I had to explain injections and surgeries and all these very unsexy things to talk about,” she added.

Endometriosis is a gynecological condition associated with menstruation in which tissues similar to the inner wall of the uterus are found in other parts of the body, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvis, intestines, vagina and intestines.

Symptoms may include pelvic pain, heavy periods, pain during or after sex, and are associated with infertility.

It affects around one in 10 women in Wales.

There is currently no cure for this condition, but there are treatments available to help relieve symptoms, including surgery to cut tissue or remove some of the organs affected by endometriosis.

Sophie notes that her fiancé, Dillon, is supportive and willing to learn about the situation.

“I got hours of training from Sophie at G&T because she was so open about it,” he said.

“He made learning so easy, but he also didn’t mind the stupid questions.”

The 29-year-old Newport-based Dragons supporter, who has 57 caps for Wales, said asking questions and being open was key to offering collective support.

“Try to help in any way you can, like I always say ‘is there anything I can do’, 99% of the time the answer is no, but at least I like to ask… and occasionally get a hot water bottle,” he added.

Sophie, now a women’s health advocate and podcaster, said it’s vital to be with someone supportive no matter the challenges.

“I really don’t think I could be with someone who doesn’t want to understand endometriosis because ultimately I’ll be living with it forever. It’s a chronic condition,” she added.

While she acknowledges how daunting it can be, she wants more women to feel confident when talking about the impact endometriosis has on sex and intimacy.

“I’m an open book now… six years ago, I couldn’t even say period words without blushing,” she added.

Natalie Jones from Cardiff has endometriosis and adenomyosis He is currently awaiting his fourth surgery.

The 35-year-old actor, who was diagnosed in 2018, recently started dating again after being unhealthy for a while.

The PhD student described herself as a naturally “spontaneous person” but said she was often so tired that she feared canceling appointments might give the false impression that she was untrustworthy or, worse, uncaring.

“Sometimes if you’re so tired and you have to cancel plans, especially in a new relationship, it can feel like you’re stringing someone along, or you’re unreliable, or you’re stringing someone along,” she added.

Extra concerns like heavy bleeding or pain can be especially complicated when it comes to sex, the academic researcher said.

“You don’t want to set the expectation that intimacy will happen by having this discussion too early, but if one thing leads to another, when do you bring it up, stop halfway through and say ‘oh by the way’?” he said.

The avid traveler and gym goer said that although it was hard to watch his friends start to calm down, he didn’t let it get to him.

“It’s something I can’t control, but it doesn’t take me away from who I am, and if I’m dating or talking to someone who isn’t ready to learn or understand, then that’s probably not the right person,” she added.

Pelvic health physiotherapist Pauline-Clare Callaghan said although progress has been made in recent years regarding open discussions about menstrual health and menopause, there is still much to do, particularly around sexual pain due to endometriosis.

Sexual pain from this condition can be complex and may be related to the location of scar tissue, adhesions and fibrosis, or if the pelvic floor muscle is overactive, tight or inflamed, said the health care professional with a special interest in endometriosis.

“There are effective conservative treatments including pelvic physiotherapy but there is a care gap, there are many barriers to addressing sexual pain in endometriosis including lack of awareness/understanding of available support, embarrassment, embarrassment, cultural issues and issues accessing care,” she said.

by Faye Farthing Endometriosis UK He said the condition could have a “huge impact” on people’s sex lives and relationships.

“Sex can be a challenging topic to discuss with partners, especially if you’re new to a relationship, so ongoing public conversations around sex and endometriosis are vital to break the stigma,” she said.