“sharing, even having this conversation is healing because you just take it out. I took out a bad experience of myself not being able to advocate in university. Now we're talking about it. I already healed that version of myself and that does matter.”
Elif Tek shares her personal journey with endometriosis and highlights the challenges of diagnosis and ongoing management. She emphasises the need for increased awareness and education about the symptoms of endometriosis, as well as a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis. Elif also discusses the mental challenges of living with endometriosis, including the uncertainty of flare-ups and the impact on personal and professional life. She also discusses how her diagnosis of endometriosis impacted her family planning decisions and the challenges she faced.
Chapters
01:35 Understanding Endometriosis
14:00 Improving Diagnosis and Management
20:59 Mental Challenges with Living with Endometriosis
27:05 Workplace Accommodations
29:30 The Impact of Endometriosis on Family Planning
31:22 The Emotional and Financial Burden of Freezing Eggs
41:20 The Importance of Community and Support
45:00 The Need for Awareness and Education Amongst Young People
48:40 Advice for Those Beginning Their Endometriosis Journey
Takeaways
There is a need for greater awareness and education about endometriosis.
Infertility is a less known symptom, but it does not define you. Freezing eggs can be a viable option for preserving fertility, but it comes with emotional and financial burdens.
Creating a safe and supportive environment in the workplace is important, where individuals feel comfortable seeking accommodations and discussing their condition.
Community and support are crucial in managing health conditions like endometriosis.
Trust your instincts and seek medical attention and don’t feel ashamed about your pain. Women’s pain has been normalised in society and we must challenge this.
Want to contact Elif?
Find her on LinkedIn here.
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