Woman who looked 'pregnant' told to have baby by doctors at 15 to cure agony

Grace Almey has endured painful and heavy periods since she was young, sometimes lasting for weeks at a time

A 21-year-old woman who suffered from bloating that was so severe it made her appear 'pregnant' was allegedly told by doctors that having a baby might ease her pain. Grace Almey. from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, has endured painful and heavy periods since she was young, sometimes lasting up to three weeks.

Despite numerous visits to the doctor and trying different contraceptives, her suffering persisted. She recounted her ordeal: "From the get go, I had really heavy periods and they were really painful," she explained. "Sometimes they'd last for three weeks. My mum kept taking me to the doctors but at that age they just said it would settle.

"...I was about 15 and they said: 'There isn't anything we can do. Normally we'd tell women to have a baby'." She later added: "One said 'we know you are young but if you decide to have a baby that does help'. It's bad narrative that having a baby will solve gynaecological issues."

Grace also experienced back pain, gastrointestinal problems, and hair loss this year, yet her condition remained undiagnosed. It wasn't until she had a laparoscopy, which was initially thought to detect endometriosis, that she discovered she had adenomyosis—a condition where the inner lining of the womb grows into its muscular wall.

"He said we didn't find any endometriosis," Grace explained. "I was absolutely heartbroken. I wanted validation for my pain. Then he said we think you have a condition called adenomyosis."

The only definitive solution to end her agony, as she was advised, is a hysterectomy – the removal of the womb. This would mean she'd cease having periods and wouldn't be able to conceive.

She said: "It's localised in the uterus and womb - you have it until you have a hysterectomy. It's the only way to 'cure' it. It's bittersweet to know there is something to help but it's not possible at a young age. I've got to live with this until I'm willing to have a hysterectomy."

Grace is currently trying to manage each day as it comes, exploring holistic approaches like abstaining from alcohol and highly processed foods, and has been referred for pelvic floor physiotherapy which may relieve some of her muscle tightness contributing to the pain. She said: "I'm trying to live day by day. It alters your whole life."