“Smear tests were always been promoted negatively to me, and so when I turned 25 I was so anxious about going for my test. I decided however that I would go, as it would not be as bad as having to go through treatment further down the line. I am 26 now, and I can honestly say that smear tests are absolutely fine, pain free and an experience I would go through any day to protect myself from Cervical Cancer. I am positive for HPV, and I now understand how normal this is. I encourage every woman to go for their smear test.”

Abbie
UK

“When I was around 10, I started experiencing a weird pain in my lower back and abdominal area. One night, my pain was so strong that they took me to the ER. A young male doctor did an abdominal ultrasound and told us I was getting my first period and that we shouldn't worry. But the pain continued, I couldn't even stand in an upright position. So with that preliminary diagnosis, my mom took me to her gynaecologist and she stated that I must be having a kidney infection, gave us an order for a test and later figured out that I had VUR grade 2.”

Sofia
Chile

"I have PCOS and it can cause near fatal menorrhagia. My own female doctor wouldn't listen to me or send in any referrals as an emergency. I was losing blood daily for a year.

When I finally saw a female gyno, she showed no empathy and wanted to perform a barbaric surgery on my uterus without explaining long term consequences. I was given medicine that was ultimately banned in Canada because it caused liver failure in women in Europe. I spent 3 years endlessly bleeding and having 2 emergent D&C’s.

Women need more options. They need to be heard.”

Anonymous

“My story actually starts from my mom. This is the time she had started with her perimenopause and awareness about that was pretty rare in those days. My dad had shifted cities for a few years and was posted in Delhi.

While she was going through her hormonal changes she saw a horror movie and it affected her mental health so badly. I remember seeing her struggle to raise us and keep herself balanced. She felt super guilty. I wish we knew more about it then and could support her. My focus on my health today is because of her experience.”

Prerna
India

“I was pregnant. In week 12, the baby’s heart still hadn’t begun to beat. I attended a workshop where raw cheese and wine were offered. Jokes were made that fortunately no pregnant women were there - I kept silent. I took the Friday off for uterus curettage, went to work on Monday, and never talked about it. It was a draining experience that happens to 1 out of 10 women. Like me, most of them stay quiet about it. Unlike me, many of them do not have access to top-level gynaecological health care.”

Anonymous

“My doctor discarded my concerns, after a year or perhaps more I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer.”

Mariam
Switzerland

“In 2018, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. It is a chronic disease without cure and apparently quite common, but little is known about it and most importantly it is very difficult to diagnose. Since then I struggled to get pregnant and it is affecting my professional and personal life. A lot of women are affected by this disease and live in constant pain. We need more research on endometriosis!”

Laura
Spain

“I am a person with type 1 diabetes and have an insulin pump and cgm which greatly have improved my diabetes management. Just when I thought my diabetes was so much better controlled, I was blindsided by the symptoms of menopause. Many of my symptoms I didn't realise are connected to perimenopause/ menopause. And so began my search for information and starting on the HRT journey with the support of my GP. I am 5 months in now and still working on getting the hormone balance right to reduce the symptoms that are impacting my daily life.”

Christine
Ireland

“If it wasn't for my mother, I never would've been diagnosed with ADHD. Because they did the studies on young white boys, girls and people of colour take significantly longer to get diagnosed. The only reason I got diagnosed is because my mother found out she had ADHD, which only happened because her brain was so tired from hiding the symptoms that she broke down. Only because of that did she get diagnosed, even after years of telling her doctors that she knew she had ADHD and wanted to get diagnosed. We need to change, we need to start listening.”

Anonymous

“I was in and out of the hospital for years. Doctors laughed at me saying I was crazy. Saying it’s all in my head.

I was having extreme pain in my head to the point I’d puke, chronic vertigo, losing my vision, lightheadedness, constantly sick, and I was losing jobs left right and centre. My GP kept saying it’s depression. I went to 9 specialists who also told me it’s all in my head. I almost took my life. 5 years of my life wasted until I finally went to a Naturalpath who found out I had late stages of severe chronic Lyme disease.”

Razan
Canada

“When I was younger I hurt my ankle. After three months of pain and parents not believing me I was taken to the hospital. The H took one X-ray after waiting in a waiting room for 9 hours and then said I was fine. I could hardly walk so my parents bought me a crutch to ‘indulge me’. I was still in pain so they took me to another hospital, which practically turned me away. At my third hospital visit the one my grandparents took me to and a dr from across the room pointed out exactly where it was hurt. He X-rayed again and found a fracture.”

Anonymous
UK

“I have always had problems with my period. I didn’t start until I was almost 17, and when I did it was extremely heavy with large blood clots about the size of an English 2 pence coin. Since then my periods have been irregular and very heavy which made me dizzy. I went to the Dr. and they did an ultrasound and one blood test and found nothing so they gave up. They told me the only thing they could do was give me birth control pills and hope that trains my body. I am now on the pills and have a regular period but still extremely heavy.”

Anonymous
Canada

“My whole life I've felt like something was slightly off, I was prone to emotional outbursts, physical violence and self harm or starvation. My whole life doctors said I was just an emotional, high strung little girl, that all girls are like that when they are young. It wasn't until I spoke to friends and colleagues that I realised there really was something different. I'm seeing a specialist now, and they haven't diagnosed me yet, but the look they give me when I tell them something I thought was normal... It scares me.”

Anonymous

“My mother passed away when she was 50.

At about 48, her periods ceased. She never went to see a gynaecologist, after a life of feeling either unheard or uncomfortable when doing so. Shortly after, she stopped smoking, after 35 years, not assisted.

That was when her episodes started. She got agitated, delirious, and terribly depressed. She went to different doctors.

None of them asked about her habits, or physiological aspects. They put her directly on antidepressants, a cocktail… she took her life… not a surprise seeing the cocktail she was given.”

Da
Switzerland

“I have always had painful periods. Since I started getting them when I was 10, almost 11 years old. My mom didn’t even know until I was 22. I just felt ashamed and also thought it was normal. I had enough and told my doctor it was ruining my life. I’m glad he listened but I was told my options were birth control or prescription strength naproxen. Two years later, I now have urinary incontinence and mucosal discharge and no one can figure out why. I just keep getting referred to someone else. I am tired of waiting and waiting. I need help now.”

Anonymous
Canada

“Careless supply of birth control pills/hormonal methods without taking into account patients' risk factors and patient background.

Pharma companies undervalue women-specific care, which is highly reflected in the way birth control methods are produced and supplied nowadays. I cannot count how many friends have had health problems because of not receiving the correct birth control method at first. Many of them were prescribed hormonal methods from the very start of their sexual life and had to stop using them because of complications.”

Anonymous

“Some years ago I started to suffer from chronic pain that was misdiagnosed at first by my doctors.

Doctors kept telling ‘stress’ was the cause and the only recommendation was to go to physiotherapy, without any success. 2 years later, came the final diagnosis: a brain cyst which was causing me hydrocephalus and I ended in emergency surgery. It’s been 5 years since the surgery, and during this time I haven’t found answers to my symptoms of a brain illness. And I believe I was not heard because I am a woman and they considered I was weak.”

Amal
Switzerland

“I fear being judged. I was diagnosed with mood disorder & I need more than just pills. I need the root cause to be understood. Growing up, I didn’t know whether the new country where I immigrated would be my home or will I along with my family be deported? Immigration process was years long and the uncertainty took a toll on me. I was under the pressure of doing well academically while juggling work & family responsibilities. As a woman, my mental resilience is as though limitless. Still I fear being judged for taking pills.”

Anonymous

“Majority of my life I lived with a gut health issue which robbed me of my life. It was periodic and cyclical. My health condition is irritable bowel syndrome which affects women at a higher rate than men. I have learned a lot about what the triggers are and how to manage it so I don’t . Miss a best of my life. I am a pharmacist who has decided to become a health and wellness coach to enable other women with gut health to lead their best lives. I am passionate about supporting other women and seeing them thrive.”

Marica
Canada

“I gave birth to premature twins at 29 weeks with a vaginal delivery. The male obstetrician did not listen to my request to deliver and was pushing for a C-Section by fear tactics. I’m forever grateful to the midwife who elevated my voice. She listened to me and understood that as an athlete I was ready to endure the pain but that I wanted to deliver them without intervention to give them the best start I could. She enabled me to deliver two babies who have grown into healthy, strong girls aged 11. Medicine needs less ego, more empathy.”

Anonymous
UK

“I grew up in a place where access to high quality healthcare meant knowing someone and paying a lot of money. Having moved to Switzerland, I embraced the healthcare system here where every patient is treated like a living being, not like a wallet. So I happily go to all the regular checkups. My mother, however, is still traumatised by her healthcare experience in the past. Her heartbeat starts racing if I suggest she go for a checkup. She tells me she won’t ever go to any doctor again. I wish everyone had the same access to healthcare.”

Daria
Switzerland

“I used an IUD for over fifteen years, and was happy as I no longer got heavy periods which were so painful every month. I never thought that it might actually have been a good thing as a change in my periods would have signalled something was off much earlier on. It was only after experiencing consistent abdominal pain, I was diagnosed with fibroids. Complications during surgery resulted in an emergency hysterectomy, instead of the planned laparoscopy. I wish I had paid more attention to my health earlier on, but I was always too busy.”

Anonymous
Canada

“My grandmother had breast cancer.She discovered it after she got married. She lost one of her left breasts . Not only did she survive cancer when no one was giving her hope but she managed to have four kids and die at a very old age. She beat cancer and lived her life to the maximum, and never discussed it.”

Ma

“I always had irregular periods, but I read it was normal for some women. It was only when I had a bad reaction to anti conception that I was diagnosed with PCOS, age 25. I left the doctor's office with a diagnosis, but without any explanation of what it meant. What followed were years of my own research, self-education and I finally understood my symptoms were not only in my head. I learned a lot about my health, my cycles, how to track ovulation naturally and more. Knowledge I should have had as a teenager to help me identify my condition sooner.”

Anonymous

“I was repeatedly raped as a child and asked to have my uterus removed when I was 21. Despite very painful periods and ovarian cysts throughout my life I was never approved for a hysterectomy. I am now in menopause and hope I don’t develop ovarian cancer.”

Anonymous

“When I started to try to conceive, I went off the pill after 2 years of being on it. For more than a year since then, I was getting one period every 2-3 months, leaving me very little chance of getting pregnant. My cycles were normal before going on the pill. When seeking medical help, I was diagnosed with PCOS, and the treatment plan I was given was to take birth control. There's no effort in looking for the cause, and PCOS is such a general diagnosis for so many symptoms and causes. My infertility trip was so helpless and depressing.”

Tina
Canada

“I’ve lost my period. I’m 32 and suffer from a condition called secondary amenorrhea. While the doctors suspect various causes (low body fat, vigorous exercise, emotional stress etc.), they don’t know for sure, and even more frighteningly, they don’t know how to cure it. Although you solve the above problems, there’s no guarantee the period will come back. As a result, I’m undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). I wish there was more research about amenorrhea to spare myself and others from the often lonely and anguish journey to fertility.”

Felicia
Switzerland

“I always had very painful & very heavy periods since age 15. A doctor told me they would stop once I had a baby. I still had painful periods after having my 7 babies. Anytime I talked to a doctor since, I was told some women just have worse cramps. While raising my 7 children, I often pushed my needs to the back burner. After suffering for 32 more years, I realised my cramps are not at all normal. I finally sought help & the doctor told me my cramps & heavy period are due to menopause approaching & that’s just how it is when you are 47.”

Laura
Canada

“I have had horribly painful periods since they began. Most often I was tired to the bone from pain. Other times I writhed in pain in bed for hours. Sleep was hardly possible. And they were heavy. Almost every single time I've leaked through my underwear onto the sheets, regardless of wearing the largest size of pads. I've seen a number of OBs in different countries. All my tests came back clear, but I was still in pain. Finally at age 30, I went to a naturopath who was able to figure out my hormonal problems and anaemia. Under treatment now.”

Anonymous
Canada

“I never liked the public changing areas in a swimming pool because I was always asked why my stomach or my legs were so hairy. I grew up feeling ugly and not feminine at all, shaving as a teenager just made it worse.

The trend of women required to be naturally smooth-skinned made me doubt myself.

As an adult I learnt about Hirsutism (a condition in women that results in excessive growth of dark or coarse hair in a male-like pattern) and slowly I accepted that not every woman looks like a Barbie doll and that's fine. We are all pretty as we are.”

Anonymous
Hungary

“Trust in doctors in women's healthcare had fallen below the line when the doctor wanted to cure a disease without examination. When that diagnosis was already 2 years old and there was no sign of any issue anymore. This is how the story begins. Luckily I raised awareness about my own body and after long practice I became a certified pelvic floor muscle trainer for women. So far I've collected so many stories of other women - my customers, that I can surely write a book. My story is about bringing health and happiness to women's lives.”

Viktoriia
Ukraine

“First 5 months of pregnancy I was vomiting all day long. All the doctors were refusing to help, telling me that it's normal and I should just take myself in hands and eat more, otherwise I'll harm my baby. Only in the 5th month, after a few scandals, they took me to the hospital for some injections. 3 days and I'm OK. I was suffering for 5 months because of something that could be resolved in 3 days. My eating habits were destroyed, so in the hospital they've found out that I have gestational diabetes.”

Iana
Switzerland

“I was forced to induce labour by shaming me, that I'm going to hurt my baby (wasn't true). The epidural wasn't made right and they refused to re-do it even though I was in labour for 27 hours. No one cared about this hell, I was waiting for 3 hours in the chair to be sewed after labour, alone. There is no way they'd have let a man go through the same hell women go through during our lives. Pregnancy, labour, periods, blood and pain and no one cares. ‘It's natural’ that's what I hear, and I hope I'll never bring a daughter into this world.”

Iana
Switzerland

“Being the first college generation in my family, I decided to major in computer science. However, I faced many challenges when I entered the workforce, particularly when I started working in the healthcare industry. I observed that the healthcare industry was plagued with bureaucracy and inefficiencies, and that it was evolving at a much slower pace compared to other industries. Despite this, I am grateful for the healthcare that I could access in the United States, which was far better than what women in other countries could access.”

Anonymous

“I was hit by a car when I was 18. The car was travelling at 70km/h and I know I am lucky to be alive. At the time medical tests and procedures were done by order of necessity. An MRI was never performed and as the pain persisted in my knee for 9 years I was told I was faking it, or looking for drugs. It took 11 years, 21 doctors and 3 specialists to finally be diagnosed with stage 4 CRPS and I will never be pain free again. I now require fentanyl and ketamine infusions to function at a minimum. All that for ‘looking for drugs’.”

Elizabeth
Canada

“I consider myself privileged for growing up in a family that supported my and my sisters' education. We all work in healthcare and pharma and despite this, we still face prejudice about our competencies. Stereotyped as females from Eastern Europe we are often treated inferior to our colleagues. When I became a mother, I was asked by my male boss when I will stop working, as this is what we all (meaning all EE females) do when we have children. I did not stop but left soon after- for a new job at Roche.”

Anonymous

“All my life I thought I was stupid. I had to change classes frequently. Either I was too dreamy or too loud. My grades were average at best. But my biggest dream was to go to university. It took me many years and setbacks in a lot of jobs until I finally had the courage to apply and ‘cure’ my stupidity, as I thought. But there, I encountered more setbacks. So I went to a psychologist, who diagnosed ADHD. It all made sense! Women with ADHD often suffer from low self-esteem. The evaluation is more complicated for us.”

Anonymous

“I struggled with eczema as a child. From a young age, I felt different due to my condition. My eczema was something I couldn't hide from strangers, and unfortunately, other kids were quick to point it out and make fun of me. It continued for 25 years when I took things in my hands and understood the reason.

My experience with eczema deepened my empathy. I learned to be more mindful of other people's feelings and to create a safe and comfortable environment for those around me. Today it helps me reach others who need my guidance.”

Agnieszka
Switzerland

“I’ve suffered from heavy migraines since I was a child. I know many women who have them too. It comes unexpectedly, cuts out my senses, makes me vomit and not able to speak for hours, sometimes days. The doctors say it’s still a mystery for them…”

Anna
Poland

“I have BRCA1 - a breast cancer gene mutation. I was fortunate to discover this and able to take drastic but preventative action. But it wasn’t until my mum’s devastating Ovarian cancer diagnosis that I - by chance - found this out. My NHS care experience has been inspirational. But why isn’t there more awareness of BRCA? And why isn’t BRCA testing more routine?”

Anonymous

“I had 1st breast cancer at 40. Still young and strong, I kept working in-between operation, chemo and radio. My employer was very supportive and I successfully continued my career after the recovery.

10 years later it came back, and this time chemo and mastectomy with reconstruction, this time I had to go on a full sick-leave for a year, as I felt very tired and I also had to take care of my 2 adopted kids with a lot of health issues.

6 months after my sick-leave I was made redundant at 55 after 26 years with the same employer.”

Tatiana

“I am 56 - menopause in full swing - often feel tired, irritated, hot flashes, headaches, difficulty to concentrate during the whole 8 hours working day, not ready to travel on business as much as before and am not as enthusiastic about team-buildings and personal development as before - I’ve had it all! How the hell will I survive another 10 years of working life before retirement and what employer will keep me for these 10 years in the state I am in? Me as a boss wouldn’t have tolerated such behaviour and would have fired myself.”

Anonymous

“In the midst of a horrifying miscarriage, a male ER doctor told me my bleeding was ‘normal’ and discharged me despite my insistence that something was very wrong. I collapsed on my way out the door. Turns out I had been haemorrhaging. I spent the next week in the hospital receiving transfusions and one emergency surgery. It took me months to recover from the blood loss. If I had been listened to, I believe my experience would have been less severe.”

Janaye
Canada

“It is often justified that women who undergo psychological abuse at home or workplaces are just too sensitive, or hormonal, or have to have thicker skin. Over long periods of time they end up developing undiagnosed mental health problems that affect their entire body. I have studied and worked in some very toxic environments, and only after many years of constantly being sick and going to doctors, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I am taking medication now, and I am in the best shape of my life, but I did lose many healthy years.”

Anonymous
Canada

“I grew up thinking that women couldn’t be doctors. My mother always desired to become one and her family didn’t let her study. When it came my time to decide, I was very sure which was my purpose in life: to become a doctor. I decided to perform a vocational orientation test and it confirmed that I was in the right direction. I am a doctor, and women can be excellent doctors (and at the same time mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and all that we want to be).”

Anonymous

“It’s time to lower the age of breast screening. Black women don’t fall into the standardised age of 50 years old to begin breast screening. We are presenting with the disease at far younger ages (under 50), more aggressive subtypes and later stages. I was denied a mammogram at the age 40 and at 42 when I requested to begin my breast screening. The reason: I wasn’t 50 yet. Two years later at the age of 44, I discovered a lump and received a diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer. Thankfully I am here to tell my story and advocate."

Anonymous

“When I was a mom of an infant and still breastfeeding, I had a very painful outbreak of an infection. The doctor only gave topical meds because they believed it’s not safe for me to take a well known effective drug due to breastfeeding. I later found out that the data states this drug is not carried through to the milk and is safe when breastfeeding. If the research on breastfeeding was more widely known, women would not have to delay lots of treatments and put up with the pain in this particularly vulnerable period of their lives.”

Lidia
Canada

“I began to have what I simply called ‘attacks’. They left me weak and very scared. I had these episodes once or twice a week consistently. I saw the doctor. He didn't seem to hear me. All he saw as an overweight, top-heavy black woman. He told me that I needed a better bra to support my ample breasts. I was dismissed. I immediately bought a new bra. The ‘attacks’ continued. One year later I had to have emergency surgery to remove an extremely perforated and damaged gallbladder. My bile duct was clogged by stones.”

Anonymous
USA

“Every month I knew my period was coming because even generic songs on the radio were enough to send me into tears. I would have cramps that would render me immobile until the cramp had passed. For years I assumed that my emotional responses and severe cramps were normal parts of ‘PMS’ and being a woman. It wasn't until I was being evaluated for anxiety and depression that my clinician (a wonderful woman) suggested I may have PMDD, and that the monthly mental and physical pain was not something I had to live with.”

Roshani
USA

“I had intense stomach pains and other symptoms that pointed toward a stomach ulcer. I had a phone appointment with a GI specialist and after I told her what pills I take for my mental illnesses, she told me: ‘For people like you, this is usually in your head. You should get some psychological support’. I had been seeing a psychiatrist 1-2 times a month for 3-years at that point. I healed my ulcer on my own.”

Dee

“I grew up in a privileged environment; both my parents, medical doctors led me to follow a career in pharmaceutical sciences. At uni, the only meaningful difference was biology between adults and children. While I recall the anecdotal paper on fast metabolization in some populations, it took my mother's heart attack to shake me and make me question our standard of care and education. My mother, a biracial medical doctor was grossly dismissed by her peers. It took hours of advocating for herself until she received lifesaving care.”

Melissa
Canada

“Nine years ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. That diagnosis changed everything. In my mind, brain surgery was a death sentence. However, forty-five minutes after the operation, they woke me and much to my surprise, I felt fine. Being faced with your own mortality takes an incredible toll on your confidence. I had to learn to walk, talk, work and live in confidence once again. I am grateful for how far I have come and the world of opportunity that Roche has provided.”

Anonymous

“My periods were very painful from the start. My mom and grandma also had that and doctors also told me it's normal for some women to have painful periods, so I stopped even mentioning it and just stuck through even though I was suffering every month despite painkillers. It was only when I was having trouble getting pregnant in my 30s that I was diagnosed with endometriosis. Even the expert on it told me this condition is hardly known and there is little that can be done.”

Tanja
Austria

“I started taking the contraceptive pill when I was 15 because of some skin problems. As far as I can remember I suffered from awful headaches. My headaches made it even impossible to work. My gynaecologist didn't take me seriously when asking him if there could be a connection and for another opportunity instead of taking the pill. So I changed my gynaecologist, stopped taking the pill and haven't had headaches within the last 4 years! Talking to others let me recognize they suffered from similar symptoms due to taking contraceptive pills.”

Anonymous
Germany

“I am a female doctor. I’ve had a few too many patients ask for ‘a second opinion’ when they really meant a male opinion. On one such occasion, I had a junior doctor explain a diagnosis to a family as I stood behind him and spoke through him, using him as an elaborate megaphone, because they refused to hear it from me.”

Anonymous

“I had struggles with my period since I was 12. My doctor didn't pay attention and told me that my pain was normal. I started to search the symptoms by myself and I found that there was a huge possibility of having endometriosis. I asked my Dr. and said that was impossible and treated me as crazy. 10 years later, I found a Dr. and her staff with different doctors (images, nutrition,surgery, etc) specialising in endometriosis. She heard me, understood me and guided me in the process of detection, surgery (bowel resection) and recovery.”

Micaela
Argentina

“I'm suffering from Lipedema. This disease affects about 10% of western european women. But this is an estimation, since it just starts to be acknowledged as a disease condition - and women suffering from it are not ‘just fat and lazy’. It is painful, it chronically-progressive inflammation & proliferation, it is hereditary, it is triggered by female hormones. AND, research on it is not very popular - so, your choice is intensive surgery, or lifelong suffering.”

Anonymous
Switzerland

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer and chose to have a double mastectomy, even though it was caught early. I had pre-cancerous formations on the unaffected side and felt it was a matter of time before I faced this battle again. Several providers questioned my ‘radical’ decision and asked if my husband agreed with my choice. I told them it was my choice because it was my body and he knew I would make the choice that was right for me. There needs to be greater sensitivity from providers around bodily autonomy, regardless of one's marital status.”

Natasha
USA

“I was diagnosed in my teens with PCOS (poly cystic ovary syndrome) due to my lack of periods, excess facial hair. The treatment - lose weight, go on the pill and have hair removal. Fast forward a few years and I was diagnosed with an overactive thyroid, saw a specialist endocrinologist who only focused on the thyroid. From my own research, I have not had my hormonal imbalances reviewed or treated as a whole. I am still struggling with PCOS symptoms and find there is not much support from the health industry to improve women's health.”

Karen
Switzerland

“I was sent home from school, due to my painful period. After that, my mom took me to the gynaecologist, and soon I was taking the birth control pill. The pill will kill the pain, I was told - not for me. More than 10 years later, after a visit to the gastroenterologist, I realised I'm not only feeling excruciating pain during the bleeding phase but as well beforehand during the ovulation period. The unfulfilled desire to have a child made me realise that there's something wrong. I diagnosed myself with endometriosis and got surgery.”

Jessica
Switzerland

“As a young lady, I took the birth control pill. I took it over decades with knowing but ignoring the risk about thrombosis and other side-effects. After 15 years of taking it, I started to realise what I am doing to my body and stopped. I got myself a copper spiral. Since then, I have much stronger pain and cramps throughout the menstrual cycle. The research in that field stopped in the 60s, because it is ‘good enough’ for a woman. Trials on birth control pills for men discontinued because of the exact same side-effects we are suffering from every day.”

Anonymous
Austria

“I am trying for pregnancy for almost 8 years now. Doctors identified some issues and suggested fertility treatments. So far, I finish the ICSI process and I failed and doctors cannot say what went wrong. I wish the science could advance more to find the root cause for the retro. And I notice Roche's focus in this fertility area is not much as well.”

Anonymous

“I have coeliac disease, which I only developed as an adult during my pregnancy. I was very lucky to have good doctors and receive the correct diagnosis after just over half a year. I've heard from so many women who suffered for years, even decades, some of them almost dying, until they knew what was wrong with them.

My daughter was much less lucky. She's been suffering from spondyloarthritis since her teenage years, but the diagnosis was only discovered a couple of years ago. Unfortunately no treatment has yet worked for her.”

Barbara
Switzerland

“I had endometriosis that was left undiagnosed for about 5 years - by the time it was found I had a mass twice the size of my uterus. Multiple surgeries and rounds of hormone treatment couldn’t get the condition under control or reverse the damage done. I was perimenopausal at 29 and had a full hysterectomy at 33 which means I’ve been on HRT for more than 10 years now. I didn’t know endometriosis even existed until something was seriously wrong, if I had known maybe I wouldn’t be in this situation, still living with the physical and mental scars.”

Anonymous
UK

“At age 42, in June 2017, I felt a lump in my left breast. Immediately booked an appointment with my doctor. He thought there is no reason to panic but just in case he prescribed me a mammogram... It was then a rollercoaster: biopsy, imaging, surgery, chemotherapy (plus another surgery), radiotherapy, hormonal therapy. Although in the beginning it looked very encouraging (small tumour identified early) I had to survive the mastectomy, the hair loss, periods of being sick... all my life changed, it was not me in control but the disease.”

Anonymous

“Lean suffered from chronic gut health problems for over 15 years and has exploited all possible diet plans, medicines, and advice from inline support communities, with little real improvement. Hundreds of thousands of similar stories she has heard after communicating with other patients about IBS and SIBO management.

It was until she reshaped her understanding of the issue and built the system on her own that she gradually reversed 80% of her symptoms successfully.”

Anonymous
Singapore

“When I started at Genentech the first product I worked on was a medicine for acute stroke. I made sure my family/friends learned about the signs/symptoms of stroke and the importance of early diagnosis/treatment. Last year, I was devastated when my aunt suffered a stroke while in the hospital that went undiagnosed for over 24 hours - far too late for treatment. Today she is still disabled. After learning how different the symptoms of stroke are for women vs. men and that women are often diagnosed late, I am passionate about changing these facts.”

Stephanie
USA

“I went through the process of egg freezing and I found it unnecessarily difficult. There is a lot of noise around this procedure, the reality of the facts is that as a woman, I want to know that if I ever need help in conceiving, I have done everything in my power to have options.”

Sarita
UK

“I lost a maternal aunt to cervical cancer that was discovered late. Because I was around 14 years old, it did not occur to me until my 20s that she was very young when she died - around 32 years old. I also did not think that she would die. I did my first Pap in my early 20s, and I am now strict about doing so regularly, or (preferably) a HPV test. The reality is that still in Africa thousands of women of all ages die from this. Education about screening tends to end in urban areas or online, and many are not familiar with the latter.”

Anonymous
South Africa

“I received a Stage 3, triple positive breast cancer diagnosis in 2017, Valentine's Day. I am not the type to joke with my health. My body was giving signals. Unfortunately, my doctors did not know what to do prior to the diagnosis. According to them, I was too young, my OB-doctor's SBE 6 months prior ruled out any lumps.

6 months later I was receiving a diagnosis. Stage 3, metastatic to the lymph nodes. Today I am 6 years free. However, I choose to be an advocate. I encourage others to be body aware, and know how to advocate for themselves."

Oluwatoyin
USA

“I have always had problematic periods… irregular, painful cramps. I went on birth control around age 21 to alleviate symptoms. I had to switch pills several times to avoid side effects. I finally found a pill that was ok and it was discontinued. Now over 20 years later, I am still on the pill even though I don’t want to be because I feel it’s the least worst option. I’m starting perimenopause but have been told I can’t test hormones accurately while on the pill. Do I just have to put up with feeling hot, lack of sleep for 10 more years!?”

Anonymous

“I feel ill (bad cold/ sore throat/ headache) for the week before my period every month and I have painful stabbing pains before and during it which are sometimes so bad I can hardly stand/ sometimes vomit. I feel unwell for two weeks every month. That’s half my adult life. Doctors don’t care. ‘Everyone has period pains. Take some paracetamol. At least your periods aren’t heavy.’”

Catherine

"My father always told me I could be and do whatever I wanted to. I turned out to study medicine and chose surgery as my specialty.

Nowadays it is still difficult to find a female role model that manages to be a successful surgeon and a mother.

Another aspect is realising how medicine has been tailored from men to men.

From instrument grips being too big for our hands, from being often mistaken for the nurse by the patients.

Many patients also shared with me how often they had their symptoms been neglected or referred to as not real. Our voices matter."

Sofia
Switzerland

“I was 11 when I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. From a young age, I have been on strong medicines to manage my symptoms and preserve my joint health. When I was ready to start a family, there was very limited research on medication protocols for pregnant women and their safety profiles for both the woman and for the foetus. My doctors and I found a way through and made choices to protect the health of the baby. I went 2 years without medication before delivering my first child. The repercussions took time to resolve.”

Francesca
USA

“I have had dozens and dozens of bladder infections in my adult life. There is no pattern, sometimes it is associated with intercourse but more often than not, it isn't. I have been on antibiotics on and off for a very long time. Each incident is treated as if it is the first time I've had one, and no doctor has suggested a diagnostic workup. It is very frustrating. Multiple courses of antibiotics can lead to antimicrobial resistance and there doesn't seem to be an end game in sight.”

Anonymous

“It took years to get a barlow diagnosis. I was told my symptoms were in my head or due to being a new mum or work stress. I went to my usual doctor with extreme palpitations and was seen by a student, he read my notes and asked me if I had ‘maybe had too much to drink on New Years Eve’!!! Then he listened to my heart and his face dropped. I was at a cardiologist the next day who happened to take a look at my thyroid whilst scanning me. Then to an Endocrinologist and a diagnosis. It took YEARS.”

Anonymous

“I've always had painful periods and had to start taking the pill because of it. My gynaecologist kept saying it was normal to feel pain, even after I had learnt what endometriosis is and asking him if that could be it. Years later I went to a specialist and turns out I do have endometriosis and a big cyst grew in the 2 years since I stopped taking the pill. I'm now on hormonal therapy, hoping I won't need surgery as well.”

Anonymous
Switzerland

“After being diagnosed with endometriosis my only options were hormonal therapy or getting pregnant (not naturally but through IVF). I looked into ongoing trials on clinicaltrials.gov and there were only around 600 trials. Minority was with investigational drugs and most of these drugs were old hormonal therapies. How can a disease that affects 1 in 10 women not attract more and innovative research!?”

Anonymous
Switzerland

“My mom passed away when she was 42 from ovarian cancer and she had had breast cancer too. I was told I had to get tested for the BRCA gene mutation, which my mom carried, as it increased my chances of developing the same disease. I finally got the courage to do the test 2 years ago, and when I came out positive I knew I had to take action. I had my ovaries removed a year ago and am now navigating a sudden menopause at the age of 42. I am on HRT but more often than not I have to advocate for myself, as many doctors are clueless about menopause.”

Cynt
Argentina

“The period!!! Without pills : extremely painful – fainted from pain 2 times – cramps, spending the whole night in the bathroom suffering, +3-4 kgs of water retention, herpes recurring 10 days before, or tonsillitis.

With pills : no libido, emotional downs, vitamin depletion, but significantly less problems.

It is time to get significant data on periods to understand it, hormonal and immune fluctuations and find real solutions. And also educate women and health providers on what is normal."

Xenia
Switzerland

“On December 26 2011, at 35 years of age, I survived emergency brain surgery which nearly took my life. I had never experienced headaches before so there was no way to know if I had a brain tumour. I woke up the morning of- and started having back to back seizures but not understanding what was happening to me. Paramedics rushed me to emergency. Hours later I was rushed to another hospital for surgery. 2 weeks later, the neurologist said, ‘You’ve had this tumour for over 20-25 years.’ My brain surgery scared me back to life.”

Elizabeth
Canada

“My child was often tired and pale. I insisted there was something wrong but was disregarded in my concerns for being an over-anxious mother. Turns out she had celiac and we had not discovered it until almost 6 years of life.”

Anonymous
Switzerland

“I am celebrating 20 years of life after my oncological surgery. Living with one kidney, part of the stomach, without part of the pancreas… And in 2021 I developed diabetes as well. But … life is too beautiful to not live it to the fullest. I have a wheel in my hand.”

Mateja
Slovenia

“Did you know that pregnant women with type-1 diabetes need to keep their blood sugar levels at the same level like a healthy person? It’s literally like a person with two broken legs having to walk like a person with no broken legs - for 10 months! This is not talked about enough, yet it’s so important to drive awareness that it’s normal and ok to not be able to reach perfect levels every day. I know that many women are stressed about this fact, but we need to support them and make sure they are not shamed for having bad days.”

Anonymous

"I have always felt pain in my body; joints, muscles, and tiredness have always been part of my days since I was very young. At age of 34 I had my first hip prosthesis; later on disc hernias, bones necroses, arthritic joints, and the only diagnoses is the age and genetic heritage and the treatment is to stop sports and go for a quiet life style

I am now 49 and the last day I remember without pain was when I got my surgery and was under anaesthesia. I reject the idea to live without moving.”

Marta
Switzerland

“I had been having severe cramps and sometimes pain even when I wasn't on my period but it was the worst on my period. My GP thought it was endometriosis but she was not allowed to diagnose me and could just help and push for me to see a specialist. I saw my first OBGYN, got a biopsy, and he hardly even acknowledged me when discussing the results and just said they were normal. He put me through this 3 times and after said the pain was all in the head nothing was wrong with me. A friend referred me to another OBGYN who diagnosed me after 15 years of pain.”

Carissa
Canada

“I have been living with sinus congestion, post nasal drips and excess mucus for years and years. So many Dr. visits and so many wrong diagnoses, I had to insist on seeing an ENT doctor.

Not taking my concerns seriously and blaming it all on nerves was the path every Dr. took. Finally at an ENT doctor taking a guess he diagnosed my acid reflux, which I had myself mentioned to my GP as I had researched my symptoms. After acupuncture and allergy specialist in different hospitals, now the new path took me to esophagoscopy, diet changes, different meds.”

Anonymous

“It’s been 8 years since I started to feel like something was wrong and I needed to look into it. After many years of being poked and prodded, tons of tests and medications, seeing specialists and multiple doctors, I still have yet to figure out what's going on and feel better. I have spent thousands of dollars and am past the point of being discouraged by the healthcare system.”

Kristen
Canada

“I went through menopause quite early, when I was 40. I had no idea what was wrong with me, hot flushes, not sleeping, violent rages, etc. Having 3 young children and working full time, it was pretty grim. After a battle with the GP my test results showed I was in the menopause but I was refused any treatment, I was considered too young. I ended up seeing a private specialist and received excellent treatment. I am very passionate about increasing awareness of menopause at work, at home and in the healthcare community.”

Lindsey
UK

“Kaboom, fear!! A small pinching in my underbelly meant it started again. If I were mountaineering, travelling, sleeping over at a friend after a party, I dreaded forgetting or losing my pain killers - all my life since youth. If I missed the timing to take them it would be too late, laying in child pose with unbearable cramping pain at home or on any toilet seat waiting 30 mins until the pain killers would kick in. Every - single - month. Meaning I would take too many pain killers too early for my whole life. Treatment for adenomyosis anyone?”

Anonymous

“After a year of trying for our first baby I was referred to our child hospital in fertility. I was told, ‘I will not help you if you don’t lose 50 lbs’. I was not referred to a nutritionist or dietician. I was not given any type of support. I was told to lose weight by stopping to eat cake and drink juice. I have gone through this process twice now and no one has ever asked me about my eating habits, my workouts or my past related to my weight. No doctor has ever looked past my weight because this requirement is not for me, it’s for them.”

Anonymous
Canada

“Growing up , my family and health professionals would tell me that great pain is part of being a woman. That painful periods, births and pregnancies are normal. I would hear of C-sections being performed while women were awake and how it is traumatising but encouraged to stay awake through the wonder of birth; how I would regret not staying awake during. When I got my IUD it was one of the most painful things I experienced. Painkillers did not help and I had to pay myself for anaesthesia. Pain traumatised me for life and into not wanting children”

Jelena
Switzerland

“At 41 years old I was diagnosed with ADHD. During my whole life I had serious struggles with my emotions, intrusive thoughts and social failures. During my childhood my mind was half present, and because of that I suffered bullying and loneliness. But I was a girl, and girls didn’t have ADHD, just boys. I look back and I feel sadness for my younger self. If I had received medication before, my life could be better. But now, my fight to reach treatment still goes on, but my head is quiet and my heart calm. It is another level of happiness.”

Lorena
Chile

“After an abnormal smear I was invited by phone and a letter in the post for a colposcopy. I took myself to the appointment alone. Before even starting the colposcopy they informed me they would also be doing the Lletz procedure there and then. There was no mention of this prior and after speaking with several female friends this is very normal. After my procedure which was extremely painful and long I did not stop bleeding so had to be admitted onto the ward. Another friend drove herself home after hers and had a collision involving a small dog. I wasn't sure what to think when I got my HPV diagnosis. I hadn't heard about it much, other than what they briefly tell you at your smear test appointment. Seeing the words 'HPV' and 'cervical cancer' in the letter was very worrying at first. However when I got to understand HPV more, I learned that it wasn't something to be ashamed of or confused about. I can now happily say after a year I am HPV free! Get your smears done, they may save your life.”

Sara-Jayne
UK

“I grew up feeling ashamed of being a woman. Ashamed of puberty, of having a period, of showing emotions, of skin issues caused by hormones. I didn’t learn anything about what happens to me because of periods and hormones. I was just given birth control pills. I had acne - birth control pills. Boyfriend - birth control pills. After my second child was born I had breast cancer. My doctor asked me why I’d get checked. ‘Don’t worry about it. You’re too young.’ After feeling my big lump the referral wasn’t even sent as urgent. It took months.”

Christina
Canada

“My grandmother had been told for over 15 years that she had a bad back and was medicated for that. Finally it was found she in fact had a heart issue and endured a triple bypass at the age of 83. We think that she was misdiagnosed due to her sex and her quality of life was less than it should have been for decades because of this.”

Julia
UK

“After being given steroids (oral/topical) for an acute allergic reaction, I started getting eczema on my face. I went to countless derms/docs who prescribed steroid cream after steroid cream, always with the undertone that I was being vain and ‘too concerned’ with my appearance. 2 years later, my entire body was covered, I was incredibly sick. I discovered TSW, the dangers of steroid creams and an online community who had the same horrific experience, suffering so much because docs were over-prescribing steroid cream, disproportionately to women.”

Anonymous