A 31-year-old dental nurse, Hann Dougie, recounts being advised by medical professionals to conceive at the age of 17 to alleviate her menstrual issues and symptoms of endometriosis. Hann’s struggle with severe periods began at the young age of 10, yet she claims that doctors dismissed her pain as psychological, leading to years of what she describes as “medical misogyny.”
Endometriosis, affecting approximately 1.5 million women in the UK, is a challenging condition where tissue resembling the uterine lining grows outside the womb. This abnormal tissue reacts during the monthly menstrual cycle, causing inflammation, intense pain, and internal scarring from puberty to menopause. Diagnosis often takes up to eight years, mirroring Hann’s experience.
Despite her mother also battling endometriosis, Hann didn’t receive a proper diagnosis until she turned 18. Prior to this, she alleges that a doctor suggested pregnancy as a simplistic remedy for her symptoms when she was just 17 years old, leaving her feeling hopeless and unaided.
Following her diagnosis, Hann tried various treatments without long-term relief, including surgeries and medications. In 2021, after nearly a decade of coping with endometriosis, she discovered potential relief through medical cannabis, a solution never previously suggested by healthcare professionals.
Receiving medical cannabis through the clinic Alternaleaf has transformed Hann’s life, enabling her to discontinue other medications and experience improved quality of life. By sharing her journey, Hann aims to raise awareness about endometriosis and challenge the stigma surrounding medical cannabis, emphasizing the importance of exploring alternative treatments for women’s health issues.
