Three weeks since our epic journey to Liverpool, our Social Media Trustee, Kate Dunstone, reflects on an awards night to remember. Driving up to Liverpool, four Trustees in one car with the remaining one haring up the motorways after a morning teaching! We were excited, nervous, unsure what to expect but ultimately hugely proud. Proud to have been nominated, proud to be making this journey together. Traffic being the way it is in the UK, we all had around 30 mins to get our best frocks on and put our best foot forward. The stunning Anglican Cathedral was a 5-minute Uber away and, with our bri ..read more

We are thrilled to announce our official charity link with Portsmouth Football Club Women's team! Full press release below. Endometriosis South Coast will become the Women’s first ever official charity link, with both organisations combining to raise awareness and support within the local community. Endometriosis is the name given to the condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body. During the menstrual cycle, the body goes through hormonal changes each month. Hormones are naturally released which cause the lining of the womb to ..read more

Hey, my name’s Alex and I’m a transman with endometriosis. I’ve had symptoms for over a decade but I only started my journey to a diagnosis at the beginning of 2021. It’s believed I have Stage 4 endo due to its affect on my other organs but I’m still awaiting my diagnostic laparoscopy. When I begun to research endometriosis, I was overwhelmed by gender dysphoria because all the charities, doctors and the community focus on it being a ‘women’s disease.’ This meant I was constantly being misgendered while trying to educate myself on my illness. Even the medical professionals who knew I was tran ..read more

Cervical cancer incidence dropped by 42% between 1988-1997 due to screening. Routine smear tests have reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by 75% and it has been a successful screening programme, however incidence rates have now stabilised this is thought to be in part, down to the fact that smear tests are insensitive to precancerous and cancer lesions. Sensitivity of a single Pap test for high-grade lesions may only be 60-80%. HPV testing can detect 25-50% of lesions missed by a single cytology screen. The relationship between HPV and cervical cancer has long been established, with this ..read more

I have been asked by the charity to write a piece for International Women's Day (IWD). Fresh off the back of watching Last night's Pamodzi Creatives Inspirational women's awards. An annual ceremony honoring women who have gone above and beyond in Portsmouth that makes you damn proud to be a women! One of the beautiful aspects of this ceremony (beyond the obvious) is that every award recipient is asked about her tribe, the women that supported her to where she is now standing. Because Pamodzi are fully aware that behind every woman leading the way is a thousand women who have come before her, p ..read more

This Sunday (8th August) is National CBD Day so this week’s Fact Friday is looking into CBD and its potential benefits for people with endometriosis. What is CBD? CBD Is one of the main ingredients of the Cannabinoids found in Cannabis Sativa. CBD is produced as a food supplement and although many talk of its health benefits, we make no claims of it, however The World Health Organisation produced a paper on CBD in December 2018 which can be viewed by clicking the link here. CBD forms part of our own ‘Endocannabinoid system’ a biological system found throughout the central, and peripheral nerv ..read more

This week has marked international non-binary awareness week: celebrated since 2012 it is a time of celebrating the non-binary identity, people, activism and educating those that may not be familiar with its meaning. Thankfully, there is growing recognition of what it means to be non-binary, a recent poll in the U.S found that ¼ of LGBTQ+ people identify as non-binary, amounting to approximately 1 million people. If you keep up to date with celebrity ‘goings on’ you may have noticed many influencers and stars disclosing their non-binary status (see: Sam Smith, Ruby Rose, Demi Lovato, Indya Mo ..read more

Bright Futures UK released a new campaign earlier this week, ironically named Donate2Educate, which included 16 influencers who live with chronic or long-term illnesses. My friend Neha had shared it to her IG story, reposting Loujane’s observations on how this particular collage of people wasn’t representative of chronically ill people of colour. Original post here Naturally, being me, I visited the post to see what the response was. Loujane had already started a meaningful dialogue with the organisation, asking them to ensure that all types of people are involved in their campaigns, knowing ..read more

The Taboo of Periods I recently posted a video on social media; it shows a drawing of the female reproductive system covered in blood and a hand wiping it away (like the one below). People commented that it was gross, some wanted to lick it and others told me to stop. I don't think I fully grasped how controversial it could be. I live in a world dominated by my reproductive system; it dictates what I can and can't do every single day. I forget that this isn’t a normal way to live. Endometriosis has taken over my life, just as it has for so many others living with the disease. I had to stop wo ..read more

Lauren (our new Trustee) talks to us all about Endo and Mental Health and why it's an important area. Don't forget to check out our mental health page for resources around the South Coast https://video.wixstatic.com/video/b38213_b45115b9121c48e6bf7da9630af2613a/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Here are some helpful reseources. Resources: Mind.org.uk - Mind’s website has lots of resources for mental health support. Samaritans – Samaritans.org Or call 116 123 You can also chat to a Samaritan online NHS- https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/ Mental Health First Aid England https://explore.freecoursesinengland.co.u ..read more