Woman's adenomyosis prevents her from having a relationship

Meg Phillips was diagnosed with adenomyosis after 13 years of debilitating pain. The lifelong condition occurs when tissue that normally lines the uterus grows into the muscular wall of the uterus.

She first realised something was wrong aged 16 when her periods became irregular, heavy and filled with clots.

The now 35-year-old has made a choice to live alone due to symptoms of painful intercourse and issues with fertility which have caused her anxiety.

Meg with her sister Sylvia after her laparoscopy in 2017 in Horton General Hospital

She said: “To begin with my periods were ok but by the time I was 16 they'd become heavy, I was losing a lot of blood and had liver-like clots in it.

“This become unbearable and aged 17 I was rushed to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with a ruptured ovarian cyst.

“After that I decided to take a contraceptive pill back to back so I didn't have to endure the pain from my periods anymore.

“Throughout my teenage years I had one serious relationship and I soon realised that bleeding throughout and after intercourse is not normal. This put a strain on our relationship and we went our separate ways.”

Meg, 35, with her dog Pippa.

Miss Phillips started to suffer from a bloated stomach and abdomen pain and was eventually referred for an ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound in 2016.

It showed a shadow in her womb and she was referred for a diagnostic laparoscopy, key-hole surgery, at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury in 2017, aged 29.

She said: “That's when adenomyosis was discovered. I spoke with the doctors and asked about treatment and as my pill was controlling my periods I continued with it but the only cure was either waiting for menopause or a hysterectomy.

“I asked for the hysterectomy but was told that because I hadn't yet tried for children they wouldn't do it.

“I asked what my chances to conceive would be and they said my ovaries are healthy but I have greater risk of miscarriage because my womb walls are hostile so I may need IVF.

“So I walked out that day knowing my chances of having a child would be slim and I made the choice to live my life as a single person because of the pain, bleeding with intercourse and daily struggles with my anxiety.

“It scares me to commit to a relationship with anyone. Life can be hard but I hope me opening up about my condition will help others realise no-one has to go through things and suffer alone.”

Meg's cats Ember and Nieva who have helped her when she's felt low

She added: “I'm very lucky to have my beautiful nieces and nephews and I'm blessed with four beautiful fur babies who help me get through this thing called life.”