Anna's Story*
Step 1
Anna discovered what mattered
Anna (she/her) is a 34-year-old accountant who was referred by her gynaecologist with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain, bowel pain and significant fatigue. Anna’s assessment included comprehensive pelvic health and psychosocial questionnaires, bowel diary and pelvic floor and perineal examination. Exploring the results with her physio, Anna was able to identify that stress, poor sleep, fear of movement, pelvic floor muscle tension, and poor bowel routines were factors she hadn't previously considered. Anna discovered that while endometriosis was part of her story, multiple other factors were amplifying her pain and symptoms.
Anna's Pelvic Health Goals:
- I would really like some answers to what is causing my pain because I thought suppressing my period and having endo surgery would be the solution.
- Reduce worry with bowels - be able to go out confidently in public without fear of rectal pain
- Manage my pain and flare ups – so I can feel confident to work in the office again, socialise and return to more exercise.
Step 2
Anna restored what mattered
Understanding how pain works in the nervous system, how stress affects the body, and why movement was protective rather than harmful was revelatory for Anna. Anna fully embraced developing a pain and flare-up tool kit. She became a convert to movement practices, discovering that yoga was not only calming but helped to reduce her pain. Anna combined breathing exercises with positions that relaxed her pelvic floor muscles. Bowel retraining and strategies to improve bowel emptying reduced her rectal pain and gave her confidence to go out. Sleep optimisation, stress management and a clear plan for managing flare-ups reduced Anna's anxiety significantly. She gradually returned to cardiovascular exercise and stretches, rebuilding trust in her body's ability to move safely.
Step 3
Anna enjoyed what mattered
It took time, but Anna achieved all of her pelvic health goals and was socialising with friends again, exercising regularly, and managing her condition with confidence. She returned for a tune-up 4 months later following a particularly stressful time at work and got herself back on track after a month, using all the tools she had learned. Anna now knew that she had control over her symptoms and could enjoy life despite having endometriosis.