Endometriosis: I had to stop modelling because I kept passing out
Carla Cressy, a former model, shares her struggle with endometriosis, a condition that caused her severe pain and led to multiple misdiagnoses before she was finally treated. She is now advocating for better workplace protections and awareness for women suffering from menstrual health conditions.
Why it matters
The story highlights the systemic lack of medical and workplace support for women dealing with chronic reproductive health issues.
Image source, Carla Cressy Image caption, Doctors removed Carla Cressy's appendix, but it was endometriosis that was causing the excruciating pain
Carla Cressy worked as a model from the age of five until she was 17, but kept collapsing on shoots.
"It was really embarrassing and I couldn't do it anymore," she says.
From the age of 13, when she started her periods, she was plagued by excruciating pain but she was only finally diagnosed with endometriosis when she was 25.
By then, doctors had removed her appendix, mistakenly thinking she had acute appendicitis.
"I was hospitalised for chronic constipation several times. I wasn't able to eat, I was vomiting and in such severe pain but I kept being told it was a stomach bug."
Carla ended up retraining as a beauty therapist because she felt she was "unemployable and unreliable" due to her health.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in