Anna Najran shares her experience of navigating endometriosis and adenomyosis alongside a career in dentistry, plus her advice for others who are suffering.
As a general and cosmetic dentist, I have cared for thousands of patients, helping them through everything from routine examinations to smile makeovers. Behind the scenes, I was pushing through intense pain, living with an undiagnosed chronic illness while balancing the demands of life as a busy working mum.
Looking back, I had struggled with my menstrual health since my teenage years, but over the last decade my symptoms progressively worsened. I experienced a range of symptoms, from intense pelvic pain and back pain to bloating, chronic fatigue and migraines. Despite seeking medical advice, my symptoms were repeatedly dismissed.
Like many women, I accepted this for a time. But I knew something wasn’t right and I kept advocating for myself. Eventually I was referred for an MRI and then on to an endometriosis specialist.
It was only when I underwent complex surgery that I was finally diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis and adenomyosis and truly understood just how much I had been living with.
I am sharing this because I know I am not the only dental professional living with this invisible condition.
What is endometriosis?
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