'I was told to get pregnant as a solution to my endometriosis – medical cannabis has been life- changing'

A YOUNG woman who claims was told by doctors to get pregnant at 17 as a solution to her periods and endometriosis symptoms has said taking medical cannabis has been “life-changing”.

- ELEANOR FLEMING

Hann Dougie, 31, a dental nurse from Neath, started having debilitating periods aged 10, but claims she was repeatedly told by doctors that “the pain is in (her) head” - and she went onto experience “medical misogyny” for years after.

She was prescribed the contraceptive pill at the age of 14, along with codeine and antidepressants, but said this affected her mental health significantly, causing severe depression and anxiety.

At the age of 17, Hann claims a GP told her that pregnancy could be a solution to manage her painful periods, which often left her unable to walk, and said other GPs offered the same advice.

Despite her mother having endometriosis - where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body - it was not until she turned 18 that she received her own official diagnosis.

Although the UK Government announced in 2018 that medicinal cannabis is legal under strict regulations, Hann said she did not discover it until 2021, and it has been “phenomena” in managing her pain and helping her get her life back.

Hann said: “Most male doctors that I've spoken to regarding my periods and endometriosis, they've said, ‘It's in your head, lose weight, here’s the pill! From my personal experience, there needs to be a lot more help towards women's health.

“We really need to be looking into how medical cannabis can help a variety of things, especially women’s health, and the massive issue that we've got with medical misogyny.

“We're well aware of if something's not right with our bodies, it’s not just in our heads.”

Hann’s mother worked as a nurse when she was growing up, so they had discussed puberty and periods and it “didn’t come as a shock".

However, at the age of 10, when she started her periods, she said the pain was debilitating.