Our reality isn't 'made up'.

You’re going about your day as normal, and suddenly, you’re struck down by immense pain. You’re seeing spots, your mind is struggling to comprehend exactly what is going on, and you drop. Then you’re told you’re being rushed into emergency surgery — only for some members of society to say, “You’re putting it on.”

Well, this is my reality. And the reality of one in nine Australian women.

After the surgery, I had to heal from multiple incisions that went through multiple levels — not a simple paper cut. I was incredibly swollen for days, after they had to pump me full of gas.

For those who don’t know me, my name is Morgan. I’m a fiancée, a businesswoman, a daughter, a sister, an aunty, a friend — and a woman living with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition where endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus.

On December 9, I felt that unbelievable pain while I was Christmas shopping. I was rushed to hospital, only to be told there was an eight-hour wait, and because the pain had subsided, I decided to go home and follow up with my GP. To be honest, I thought it was just another small ovarian cyst rupture — painful, but nothing they could do.

Fast forward a few days and appointments, and that same pain hit me again. This time, I was rushed into an ambulance, and within 10 minutes of arriving at the hospital, I was told I needed emergency surgery. Turns out, I had a 13cm ovarian cyst causing ovarian torsion — one of my fallopian tubes was twisting, cutting off blood supply, and my ovary was literally dying. This was ultimately caused by endometriosis — which I didn’t even know I had.

After surgery, I spent several days in hospital as my surgeon explained there had been complications. It was a difficult surgery to not only remove the cyst but also save my ovaries.

Why am I telling you this?

Because I’m not the only one who has experienced something like this.

Like many of you, I was disgusted but sadly not shocked to hear a certain public figure claim that this condition was “made up” and that “God, don’t ladies carry on.”

To that person, I say: I’m grateful you must not have women around you who live with this condition. Because if it was your wife, your daughter, or your mother struggling with one of the most painful conditions a person can endure, you wouldn’t be calling it “made up.”

And if they do have it? I feel immensely sorry for them, because clearly, they’re not receiving the support they need.

Endometriosis can take on average seven years to diagnose.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month.

To every woman out there living with this condition — whether you’ve been diagnosed or not — I see you.

I’m sorry that once again, someone is telling us what is and isn’t real in our own bodies. I’m sorry that you’re living with this pain. And I’m sorry that society still isn’t where it should be.

But that’s why we keep talking about it. It’s up to us, our loved ones, and our community to start these conversations and raise awareness.

Because period pain isn’t normal.