“It’s not just the bleeding and the pain — it causes so many other issues,” one of the siblings explained

NEED TO KNOW

• Sisters Liv and Molly Smith said they spent years seeking answers after their severe menstrual pain was repeatedly dismissed by medical professionals as “bad periods” 
• The siblings were eventually diagnosed with endometriosis
• Liv and Molly said the painful condition significantly affected their lives, including missed school days, lost jobs and struggles with intimacy, because of their debilitating symptoms 

Two sisters say they spent years living with debilitating endometriosis symptoms before finally being diagnosed with the condition.

Liv and Molly Smith of Leamington Spa, England, claim their severe menstrual pain was repeatedly dismissed by medical professionals as simply “bad periods,” according to Kennedy News and Media.

Together, they spent more than a decade seeking answers before each was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis following laparoscopic surgery.

The condition occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body, often causing painful symptoms that can affect menstruation and daily life, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The condition can also make it difficult for some people to become pregnant due to scarring and blocked fallopian tubes.

For Liv, 26, the painful road to a diagnosis began after she got her first period at 16. She said it took eight years before she finally learned what was causing her symptoms.

During that time, the pain took a toll on numerous aspects of her life. Liv said that her school attendance suffered and that she lost jobs because of the amount of time she needed to take off. The condition also affected intimacy in her romantic relationships.

“It’s not just the bleeding and the pain — it causes so many other issues,” Liv, a full-time content creator, said.

She ultimately underwent surgery in September 2024, recalling that she cried when doctors finally confirmed that she had the condition after the procedure.

Her older sister’s symptoms began even earlier. Molly, 32, said she got her first period at age 9 and immediately experienced heavy bleeding and excruciating pain.

After numerous visits to medical professionals, Molly, a former makeup artist, underwent surgery in April 2010 and was diagnosed with endometriosis following the procedure.

“People just think it’s a bad period and it’s not — it’s a debilitating illness,” Molly said, per the outlet.

The sisters’ experiences come as two potential noninvasive diagnostic technologies are being considered for the condition by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The new technologies could help diagnose the condition earlier — which experts say would be a major advancement for those living with the disease.

“A diagnosis of endometriosis can for some women take the best part of a decade, with the U.K. average standing at nine years and four months, and rising to 11 years for those from ethnically diverse communities,” Dr. Anastasia Chalkidou, director of the Health Tech program at NICE, said, per the outlet.

The Smith sisters said that while they are glad to know new diagnostic methods are being developed, they warned that the tools will only be helpful if healthcare providers know what to look for in the first place — and actually listen to their patients.

“These new technologies are a great step in the right direction, but we need more awareness and education about endometriosis out there to make sure this is successful,” Molly said.

“It’s great having the technology there, but if people don’t know about it and you keep getting [dismissed by your doctor], what’s the point of having it there?” she added.

“There needs to be more education, and it should be taught at school as part of sex education,” she continued. “I think doctors need to know more too as this is everyone’s starting point when you have problems.”

#Sisters #Diagnosed #Endometriosis #Doctors #Dismissed #Debilitating #Pain #Bad #Periods #Years