ENDOMETRIOSIS diagnosis, care, and specialist availability in Ireland has been described as 'appalling' by women who recently protested outside the Dáil.

Skibbereen's Gina Lynch spoke to The Southern Star to explain why women are making substandard health care services for women a national issue. 

Gina also explained how her own art project, entitled End the Norm, is an attempt to end the normalisation of pain for women.

It was after attending two protests in Dublin that Gina found the inspiration for her project. What started as an idea germinated into a hard-hitting questionnaire, as well as a photoshoot, with sufferers. And these contributions will be collated and form the basis of an exhibition next year.

Gina, who is 44-years-old, explained how her own journey with 'Endo', or endometriosis, began 18 years ago with a complete sense of shock. 'I was totally ignorant about the disease,' she admitted.

She recalls experiencing severe abdominal pains that she could no longer manage, which resulted in her being sent by her doctor to A&E. There, she was given an internal exam only before being sent to surgery.

'Afterwards, the hospital consultant told her, while she was heavily sedated, that she had endometriosis and that he had successfully "lasered off" the affected area. 

'I was given little or no information afterwards about the condition, I was just pumped full of hormones and sent on my way,' said Gina.

'I had a really bad reaction, both physically and mentally, to the injection, so much so that I had to have HRT treatment to counteract it.

'When I finally went back to my last out-patient's appointment my consultant, a male, told me: "If you want to have any more children you'd want to do it now".'

Gina recalls that day as the lowest day since her diagnosis. In fact, she identifies that as the very day her feelings of depression began.

'It was a very slow decline into depression,' she said. 'There was so much conflict in my brain over about five years and all the while the pain was still there.

'Friends knew my mood wasn't normal, so I went back to my doctor and a psychologist. And after having a month off, I returned to work but went into a rapid decline, so much so that I started losing my hair.

'I took medication, anti-depressants, as a crutch, followed by three months of therapy. Ultimately, I changed my job but it was demanding and the pain of my condition was still ramping up.'

It dawned on Gina that the pain was near constant and, following Covid, she and her husband relocated from Galway to West Cork.

'It was after the birth of my second son, four years ago, that the pain became excruciating. I had tried everything to alleviate it, but nothing worked.

'Every time I mentioned to medical professionals I was gas lit, including the time, about two years ago, when I mentioned the endometriosis to a doctor but he bluntly told me, 'It's not that".

'There is some misogyny when it comes to female health care in this country, but I need to make the point that some female medical practitioners have been dismissive too,' said Gina.

In desperation, the artist turned to Instagram and found Her Voice Project, a non-profit community organisation for Women's Health Activism.

It offers a free resource library focusing on women's health concerning a range of subjects including contraception, endometriosis, pain management and menopause.

Gina finds the platform empowering on so many levels. 'My biggest drive was connecting with the group, which is breaking the barriers around endometriosis, and other women's health issues.

'It also calls out the powers that be on the shocking state of our health care system, not only around women's healthcare, but endometriosis diagnosis, care, and specialist availability.'

Gina said she has only started back on her journey with healthcare professionals over the last six months because after her pain had increased along with near constant exhaustion. 

She made an appointment with a female GP and insisted on getting a referral to someone who knew about Endo care. 

Gina also contacted Cllr Isobel Towse (D) and between them they managed to get an appointment to see a female gynaecologist, with an interest in Endo, in May.

Gina confirmed that the appointment next month will be the first time she will be getting specific care for Endo since she had surgery 18 years ago.

As a member of the Her Voice Project community, Gina recalls the first protest she attended in Dublin. It was a bitterly cold and drizzly day in January. But she said she felt connected standing alongside 'a fabulous group of women demanding better healthcare for women.'

Sinn Fein representatives and the party leader and Mary Lou McDonald met with the protestors, which Gina said made them feel heard. It also personally gave her the courage to start working on End the Norm.

These women are calling for more to be done with the Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme (ESAIS); they also want better research into Endo; an end to the delay with diagnosis; and a call for a greater number of specialists.

'I plan on being part of as many protest marches for improved health care as I can despite the fact that it physically takes a toll on me, as it does with others who suffer from the same chronic disease.'

She said it was estimated one in 10 women suffered from Endo, but the she believes the actual figure could be much higher due to misdiagnosis, and women being palmed off with "It's just a bad period."

'Endometriosis is a far-reaching issue that has been neglected for too long,' said Gina, who is happy to hear from anyone who would like to be part of her End the Norm exhibition.

Contact: [email protected] or on Facebook and Instagram @ginalynchart.