@Appleblossom @avant-garde @outlander 

Neither of my parents ever talked about women’s health.  Grew up feeling it was a taboo subject and still struggle in some areas.  From my mother’s perspective, heavy period was somehow my fault and couldn’t be that bad if I dared mention the amount of pain.

same as some of my female relatives I have a history of ovarian cysts and multiple surgeries to remove cyst.  Never felt comfortable having to see male gynos and having, what felt like, female only discussions.

Remember being hours drive away from home one day and feeling like I had been punched near base of my spine, so scary.  Following outcome of ultrasound was referred to female gyno as part of research project.  More surgery and first ovarian cancer scare.

yr or 2 later and same type of back/spine pain.  Long story short, in hospital surgical theatre for hysterectomy and gynos suspect cancer.  2 weeks later in hospital in different town surgery performed and multiple items sent for biopsies.  Outcome 3 mths later was no cancer but severe endometriosis, both tubes almost fully blocked.