Freya is one half of dynamic duo @thoseendosisters on Instagram, an account dedicated endometriosis and IC awareness, education and support that she and her sister Niamh started after both being diagnosed with endometriosis. Despite experiencing suspicious and ultimately painful symptoms from a young age, Freya found herself struggling to convince GPs of the seriousness of her symptoms, and as a result went without a diagnosis for years. At 21, newly diagnosed with endometriosis, she is passionate about advocacy and education, and is one of the many voices calling for change in the United Kingdom, where the diagnostic delay for endometriosis remains even greater than that of Australia. In this blog, Freya shares her story and how she now manages her condition, in the hopes that others will feel empowered to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.

Did you know that QENDO now offers a counselling service for those affected by endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and infertility? This service is tailored specifically to the needs of our chronic illness community to provide that extra level of personal support you may need. In part two of our three part series on the benefits of counselling, Amanda explores the “what” - getting into the nitty gritty of what to expect from the counselling process, the approaches your counsellor may take during your sessions, and some of the red flags that your counsellor may not be the right fit for you or your situation.

PCOS affects 1 in 10 of reproductive age and remains surrounded in a great deal of myth and misinformation. Here at QENDO we’re helping our community to better understand the realities of PCOS by shining a light on the many voices of those affected. Today on the blog Victoria Rouru shares her PCOS story, one which has spanned 11 years. She talks about the misinformation and lack of awareness surrounding her diagnosis, her struggles with PCOS related body image, and taking control of her health. We also go back to basics on what exactly is polycystic ovarian syndrome, and what are the symptoms we need to be aware of?

QENDO support worker and counsellor Amanda Grogan recently gave a presentation as part of QENDO’s At Home series about the benefits of counselling, with mental health an essential component of any chronic illness management plan. In a three part blog series, Amanda will discuss in depth the role that counselling can have if you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness like endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and/or infertility; covering the who, why, what, where and when. In part one, we'll cover the who and why: who are counsellors, and how do they differ from other mental health workers? And why might you see a counsellor, especially if you’re a member of the chronic illness community?

In 2020 QENDO began formally offering our support and education services in New Zealand, after many years of connecting with our friends across the water. Working with our colleagues and listening to their stories brings to light the challenges and barriers those affected by endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and infertility in NZ, and how much work we can do together to improve the experiences of these chronic health warriors. One such warrior is Sarah, who has graciously shared her story with us for this blog. To launch our 2021 blog season, we’re going back to basics and #ExplainingEndo.