Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like my fellow Senators, I want to raise the issue of endometriosis awareness month. I have made no secret in this House that I suffer terribly with endometriosis. It is absolutely infuriating to be ignored for so long by the medical profession and be told it is in one's head. When I got a diagnosis after an operation, I was asked on the operating table if I was sure I wanted to do this and was told they thought I was grand. It then came out that I had a stage 4 diagnosis after all the doubts and questions about whether it was in my head and if I was sure.

I am one of the lucky ones now. I have a diagnosis and know what is wrong with me. There is very little treatment one can get. I have an option of feeling pain and being in agony or to feel nothing at all. It seems like one can be completely put out of it so one does not feel anything, and one's mind is not one's own, or one can try to tolerate the pain. Therefore, every month, one has a different pain or niggle every single week of one's cycle. There should be more awareness of menstrual health to understand one's body. Not enough is spoken about how women's bodies should work and what is and is not normal. So much needs to be done on the lack of care for women who have endometriosis. Much has been done but a lot more is needed.

I also want to thank the teachers, parents and all the school community for getting back to school today. I had four very happy but nervous boys going out to school this morning. I want to make a special note, however, of those children with additional needs who are not back to school and need extra help and who need to be taken into consideration.