Judi Love has candidly discussed her battle with endometriosis, a condition she was diagnosed with over two decades ago. The 44-year-old, who’s a regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women, said the pain has been ‘unbearable’ at times, both physically and emotionally.
In an exclusive conversation with the Mirror, she said: “It took me about five years to get a diagnosis, and the average time is even longer – as long as nine years. For women, our pain is often not always taken seriously, so symptoms are just put down to having ‘bad periods’.
“At the time, it wasn’t spoken about much, so when I received my diagnosis I honestly didn’t really know what it was, but the effect on my life, my physical and mental health, was sometimes unbearable.” Endometriosis takes place when tissue, similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere, such as in the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Typical symptoms include lower stomach or back pain that intensifies during your period and may hinder your daily activities. Pain during sex and diarrhoea during your period could also be part of this condition.
The World Health Organisation estimates that around 190 million people in the world are affected by endometriosis, but the topic still remains very taboo. A focus group study from Endometriosis UK even found that 47% of the female population (aged 16-54) ‘would be concerned to tell their employer they needed to take time off sick due to endometriosis’.
Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK previously commented: “Myths such as ‘chronic period pain is normal’ or ‘you must have a low pain threshold’ manifesting in society, workplaces, schools, and even healthcare settings contribute to those experiencing symptoms being put off from seeking medical advice and contribute to diagnosis taking on average a shocking 8 years.
“The impact of delayed diagnosis on people’s physical and mental health can’t be overstated. If undiagnosed, the disease may progress, and negatively impact people’s careers, education, relationships and all aspects of their life.”
Judi is now determined to push for more open conversations about endometriosis. She said: “I think it’s so important that people are starting to have more open conversations about endometriosis and the impact it can have, as well as pushing for diagnoses, because not having that pain recognised or acknowledged is really difficult.”
Reflecting on New Year goals, she added: “I like to be active, I really enjoy boxing – it makes me feel good. One of my big mottos is ‘health is wealth’ – so that’s what I keep in mind when it comes to goals. It’s really worth investing the time in being active. It’s an ongoing thing for me which I work around my schedule, so my plan is to continue those habits for the rest of 2025.”
NHS’ list of potential endometriosis symptoms
- Heavy periods where you need to change your pads or tampons every one to two hours, or you may bleed through to your clothes
- Severe period pain that stops you from doing everyday activities
- Pain when urinating or going to the toilet
- Pain in your lower tummy or back
- Pain after or during sex
- Extreme fatigue
- Low moods and anxiety
- Difficulty getting pregnant
The health authority adds: “It’s not known what causes endometriosis and there are currently no treatments that can cure it. But treatment can help manage symptoms such as pain.
“Your doctor will talk to you about the risks and possible side effects of each treatment. If treatment is not working or your symptoms are very severe, you may be referred to a specialist endometriosis service.”