Is it endo or something else?
Kia Ora from New Zealand! I have a bit of question to everyone about wether my history seems to align with endometriosis symptoms or something else- getting diagnosed in nz is VERY difficult when you dont have private healthcare (i am a university student and cannot afford private).
Ok so since around 11/12 i had very very heavy periods that would debilitate me (struggle to breathe from pain, couldnt walk- would often crawl to the bathroom). I grew up with only boys so it took a bit longer for my family to realise it wasnt normal (including myself), I would also experience significant mood swings which were probably influenced by how much pain i was in (severe irritability, anxiousness, meltdowns).
(around 13/14) I pretty quickly went onto the Depo Provera injection after going to the doctors, which completely eliminated my period- it was great!!!! I think after awhile i either missed a dose or wanted to see if i go could go off it (cant remember) and i ended up getting severe pain in my stomach like cramps and was wailing, screaming, and dry heaving from pain so i got taken to hospital-- where they said it was likely ovulation pain... so i went back on depo. (wouldve been around15/16).
Then after a few years ( I was 19), saw the articles about brain tumours and how after 2 years you should likely not be on it long-term - after i had been on it for 5/6 years.. i went off it then got my period for around 2 months straight which is when i decided okay im gonna look at different options cause i ended up failing an entire semester from being in pain/exhausted from my period..
(20 years old) So i got the mirena... the bleeding continued for another month and a half straight after it.. I complained that i wasnt hopeful and they told me to wait 3 months as breakthrough bleeding is common.. i waited and my periods did lessen but i was still bleeding quite frequently... even if it was just a few clots or spotting.. it lessened my period but it seemed like it just lengthed it x2-3 or id have a short period for a few days then a few days not then a few days on- at the 6 month mark of this happening i complained and they told me its normal..
then at the roughly 10 month mark of being on it i booked with a different gp as the nurse on the phone said well wait a year (absolutely not.) as yea my periods were lesser but in the last month and a half i had 2 weeks where i didnt bleed (not a continuous 2 weeks). I get back pain and stomach cramps very often and still very bad mood swings- i also get pain during intercourse, dry vulva tissue during my periods, and hormonal acne since the merina.. when im not bleeding or cramping ill still have brown spotting or weird very clotty/stringy brown discharge nearly constantly.. The doctors today are trying to get me a ultrasound which hopefully is possible- who knows how long itll take.. but they put me on provera 10mg/day (medroxyprogesterone) which is meant to help the breakthrough bleeding...
(I also deal with frequent yeast infections - often asymptomatically and the occasional UTI and bowel issues- constipation)
Its very vulnerable posting this all but doctors seem to be going in circles and ive tried pelvic physio for some issues but the main issue/question is still left unanswered.. im wondering if anyone's experienced the same or simmilar or even anything! Thank you for reading my medical nightmare of a story!
Posted Sep 28, 2026, 4:38 AM UTC