A woman whose severe period pains have left her feeling suicidal has begged doctors for a hysterectomy.
Kacey Read, 21, from Brighton, East Sussex, has struggled with the hellish pains - which leave her involuntarily screaming, vomiting and even knock her unconscious - since she was 12 years old.
Painful, heavy or irregular periods are thought to affect up to 14 per cent of women of childbearing age - but , Kacey believes her extreme period pain could be caused by an undiagnosed medical condition such as endometriosis or adenomyosis.
Like many sufferers, Kacey has never been formerly diagnosed with either of these conditions, which are known to be incredibly hard to identify. Incredibly, it takes an average of seven and a half years.
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Kacey said: "Every doctor said I'd grow out of it. But nearly 10 years on, I'm still getting cramps so severe that I pass out from the pain.
"It isn't just the physical pain I experience, but also the cyclical emotional dips I go through because of my periods. So I really don't get a day's rest.
"I'm tired of it making me so depressed that I can't get out of bed for a week. I'm tired of having to plan my life around it.
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"When I've asked about having a hysterectomy, I've been told by medical professionals that it's not possible, I'm too extreme and that it would 'destroy me as a woman'.
"I'm tired of doctors taking away my autonomy and telling me they can't operate because I might want kids one day.
"I've had suicidal thoughts because of this - it's not about whether I have kids, it's about whether I have any quality of life.
"I'm an adult and I've made my mind up. I want this to end."
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Kacey was due to undergo an investigative laparoscopy to see if she has endometriosis ahead of the pandemic, but the procedure has been cancelled twice over the past 12 months.
She is now fundraising for her womb to be removed privately, and hopes to raise £8,500 for the operation and consultation appointments.
Kacey said: "It will mean I won't have to face four or five days of unbearable pain - and I won't have to keep calling in sick.
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"In terms of my mood, it's not an instant fix, but I'm hoping it will help. I think this is the perfect treatment. I can finally have autonomy over my body.
"It's not fair that I have to try and raise £8,500 just to be in control of my own life. I don't want to be doing this, but it's my only hope."
If you want to donate to help Kacey you can do so via her Go Fund Me page, here.
Featured Image Credit: SWNSTopics: Endometriosis, Real, Life, health news, Health