About the founder
Growing up, I suffered from excruciatingly painful periods starting at a very young age. The pain was so intense that I’d regularly have to miss day one to two days of school each month. As I got older and became more serious in my dance and acting career the fear of my painful periods grew with me. “What if I have a dance performance on day one?” “What if I’m booked for a commercial shoot and I’m in too much pain?” “What if I’m on a long-haul flight and the pain hits?” By 24, the pain had become chronic, accompanied by severe bloating and a growing list of other symptoms. Over the next eight years, I saw multiple gynecologists, gastroenterologists, acupuncturists, urologists.. you name it. I had MRIs, CT scans, colonoscopies, endless blood work—you name it. I was told I had IBS, just bad periods and nothing got better. It wasn’t until I was 33 years old and started having trouble conceiving that a gynecologist discovered a large polyp in my uterus, when discussing surgery I pushed for him to also explore endometriosis. He agreed to check for endometriosis during surgery, this doctor performed ablation surgery and he did find endometriosis. That surgery was ablation— the standard procedure most gynecologists perform and what is typically covered by insurance —but we now know it often causes more harm than good. In my case, it likely led to scar tissue that blocked my left fallopian tube, which we later learned was my dominant ovulation side.
Once it was clear that natural conception was likely not in the cards for me I saw four different fertility doctors, and it became painfully clear that many doctors—even fertility specialists— aren’t trained to properly treat endometriosis-related infertility. I went through five IUIs, three rounds of IVF and countless heartbreaks before I realized I had to take matters into my own hands. I came across EndoFound where I researched and read every bit of information on this website. I learned from EndoFound that I needed an Endometriosis Specialist and I needed to have my endometriosis excised. I finally had true hope. I found my surgeon through the EndoFound website and I was ready to finally get the help I so desperately needed. But yet again, there was another battle: her surgical facility was out-of-network, and she doesn’t work with insurance companies. We were looking at a $15,000 surgeon cost plus the hospital cost. For months, I tirelessly fought tooth and nail to get it approved. I kept telling the surgical office to keep the surgery date because I would do whatever it took to get this approved by insurance. Literally 48 hours before my scheduled surgery we got the call from insurance saying they approved the hospital portion of the cost. We still had to pay $15,000 out of pocket for the surgery, but we were ready and hopeful that this was the answer.
The outcome of my surgery was definitely more extensive than I expected.. our amazing surgeon Dr. Lora Liu found Endometriosis on both sides of my pelvic walls, on my bladder, on my colon and on my ovaries .. all which she excised. She also had to remove my appendix. And she found a 3cm fibroid on the outside of my uterus inside the cavity which she removed and stitched up. Due to mental and emotional exhaustion I decided to take a year off completely of any IVF treatments. This January I was ready and determined to start the family I tried to start 7 years ago.. in April my husband and I went through our fourth round of IVF and the first one since my excision surgery. I also found a new fertility doctor who seemed to have a better understanding of endometriosis and infertility. She suggested adding suppression therapy for three months before trying another transfer. It took four embryo transfers, endless hope, and an unbelievable amount of strength—but this time, something felt different… and it was.
Whether you’re just beginning your journey, in the midst of treatments, or finding your way to a new chapter, your story has the power to inspire and support others.
The support of other women who are also battling endometriosis, especially through a close community is incredibly powerful and healing. Endometriosis is often an isolating condition, marked by years of being dismissed or misdiagnosed, so connecting with others who truly understand what you’re going through can make a profound emotional and practical difference. Through my experience with endometriosis and infertility one major factor keeping me sane and hopeful has been the support of other women battling the same thing. Knowing you’re not alone helps counter the doubt and dismissal many women face from the medical system. Through Your Friend Infertility we hope our community will gain insight into treatments, doctors, and coping strategies others have tried and trusted. And there’s real power in being seen, heard, and uplifted by people who get it. Being part of a supportive community like this can and does empower women to speak up and advocate for better care, for themselves and for others in the future.
My greatest hope is that we continue to make meaningful progress, not just in finding a cure for endometriosis, but in ensuring that gynecologists are thoroughly educated on the disease and that women no longer have to wait years for a diagnosis. I hope insurance companies will recognize the urgency and necessity of covering the treatments and surgeries that patients desperately need, not only for endometriosis, but also for the fertility challenges that so often come with it. So many women battle endometriosis and infertility and yet so many insurance provides don’t cover either condition. Women deserve better. We deserve to be heard, to be believed, and to be fully supported on every step of this journey.