'My endometriosis pain is excruciating but I'm still waiting for surgery'

"Endometriosis occurs when tissue like the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as ovaries, fallopian tubes and other organs. "The pain is excruciating, at its worst it's like barbed wire inside me and clinging to my organs. I am so ill I can often spend days in bed," Maguire said. She said she is furious that she is having to go through an early medicated menopause as she awaits surgery - a wait which she has been told could take several years."

""I am only 25 and I am doing this to my body through no choice," she said. "I need surgery to remove the disease, but the waiting lists are too long. I'm told there are too many more serious cases ahead of me." She said large cysts on her ovaries are also causing pain and she's been advised that surgery is her only option."

"According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), 59,733 women in Northern Ireland are now on gynaecology waiting lists, an increase of almost 18% in 12 months. The Department of Health has previously said they accept the findings of earlier expert reports, that gynaecology waiting times are unacceptable and they are included in the current review of hospital waiting lists."

Gynaecology waiting lists in Northern Ireland have grown to 59,733 people, an almost 18% increase over 12 months. A 25-year-old from Londonderry with severe endometriosis endures excruciating pain described as barbed wire and often spends days in bed. She has been placed into an early medicated menopause because surgery is delayed, with waits that could take several years. Large ovarian cysts and disease removal are driving the need for surgery, which clinicians have advised is the only option. The Department of Health accepts expert findings that gynaecology waiting times are unacceptable and includes them in a review of hospital waiting lists.

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