When I Bleed

Nearly 200 million people around the world have Endometriosis. It is as common as asthma or diabetes, but we never talk about it. Endometriosis causes full-body symptoms, and is as painful as labor or a heart attack; in fact, it is one of the top 20 most painful conditions a person can experience (NHS, 2018). 1 in 9 people assigned female at birth live with this chronic illness (Endometriosis Australia, 2020). Endometriosis affects unknown numbers of non-binary and trans people. Despite often debilitating symptoms, it takes an average of 11 years to get an Endometriosis diagnosis in America. Maggie waited 11 years to get a diagnosis despite being hospitalized for the excruciating pain as early as middle school. Words can be a life raft in the depths of destroyed health. These poems depict Endometriosis as accurately as possible. These poems explain the full-body, whole life, physical and mental toll this illness takes. These poems exemplify what Endometriosis has taken away from millions of us; it also shines a light on the amazing community of warriors who keep fighting every single day.