Why are so many women still told their pain is ‘just periods’? Lori Harvey’s story is sparking up the same conversation – and women across the world say they’ve had enough
Lori Harvey, influencer and daughter of comedian Steve Harvey, recently revealed she was diagnosed with two painful conditions – PCOS and endometriosis – after years of suffering and constantly feeling ‘gas lit.’
In an episode of the health and wellness podcast, SheMD with Dr Thaïs Aliabadi and Mary Alice Haney, the 28-year-old said she dealt with excruciating pain and symptoms such as painful periods, weight gain, acne and abnormal facial hair which she constantly consulted doctors about.
“Every time I go to her, she’s [her doctor] like, ‘You’re fine, you’re fine, you’re fine. Nothing’s wrong.’ And I was like, ‘But I don’t feel fine. I feel like something is just off.” she said but after years and a referral to Los Angeles OB-GYN Dr Thaïs Aliabadi, she was quickly diagnosed.
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PCOS is a hormone imbalance that affects one in 10 women of childbearing age. The condition can cause symptoms like irregular periods, excess hair growth, acne, weight gain and infertility. Endometriosis is the reproductive condition in which uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus, causing cramping and chronic pain.
This is a harsh reality for thousands of women in the UK, some of which say they were constantly dismissed, misdiagnosed and even told these are normal period pains. A 2023 survey by Endometriosis UK revealed the average length of time for a diagnosis in the UK is 8 years and 10 months.
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X Factor alum Ella Henderson revealed her diagnosis with endometriosis, calling it both “devastating” and “validating” after years of unexplained pain. The 29-year-old shared the news on Instagram, opening up about the emotional and physical toll of the condition that left her doubting her own reality.
In a video announcing her diagnosis, the Ghost singer admitted: “The last few years have been a bit of a rollercoaster to say the least, behind the scenes and I’ve really really been struggling… with not only stomach bloating and physical pain and mental health, because at one point I thought all this pain was in my head and I wasn’t really believed.”
She also highlighted the broader issue, noting how long many endure before getting answers: “My long journey to an endometriosis diagnosis is not unique. It takes on average up to 9 years in the UK, which for many like me, can put an immense mental and physical toll on you.”
Women in the UK have taken it upon themselves to speak up about their experiences on social media. One of them is Rashida, who created a website called Flare Up and Chill after feeling like her cry for help was unheard by medical professionals.
“It was either continue to complain and feel uncomfortable or create a space specifically for us” she told her TikTok followers. Flare Up and Chill is a forum where women and young girls can come and relate to one another, have discussions about their gynaecologist conditions. The website has a symptom catalogue, resources, and more.
One participant took to the website’s forum to detail the horrific symptoms she has experienced from the age of 13 up to her current age, 27.
“How many times I have been to A&E not a single solution, diagnosis or even acknowledgement of a wider issue. And now I am 27 years old still bouncing from Dr to Dr searching for that diagnosis” the user wrote.
The user explained that she has since gone go private and describes this as an enlightening journey as she “feels like she’s not going through medical gaslighting”. She is yet to receive a diagnosis for her symptoms.
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