By Zoe Leitner
From the time I was 12 until I turned 17, I endured excruciating menstrual cycles. Each month, my body was consumed by a tidal wave of pain and discomfort — severe cramping, intense headaches, nausea and vomiting that left me bedridden for days. The blood loss was overwhelming, as if my body was at war with itself. These physical battles became routine, controlling my life in monthly cycles of suffering. Throughout this journey, I witnessed firsthand what it was like to find healing for women in an area of medicine that is largely overlooked.
My mother’s struggle with her health is a key chapter in my journey, as she has Hashimoto’s disease, a chronic autoimmune disorder that slowly undermines the thyroid’s ability to function. Over time, the condition causes the immune system to attack the thyroid, starting with hypothyroidism, where the body struggles to produce enough crucial hormones.
For many years, my mother managed her symptoms with a daily medication designed to support thyroid function. But as she approached menopause, the landscape of her health changed dramatically. The medication that had once been enough to stabilize her symptoms could no longer keep up with the demands of her body.
A more comprehensive approach, which includes testing and consulting through a specialist in endocrinology, has allowed her to better understand the complexities of her condition and find ways to balance her body. However, the road has not been easy. Hashimoto’s disease, like many autoimmune disorders, remains poorly understood and under researched. As a result, finding effective treatment has been a long and often frustrating journey.
When I began menstruating at a young age, the side effects were brutal — crippling cramps, relentless nausea and heavy bleeding that drained me both physically and emotionally, and they all hinted at a possibility of facing thyroid issues in the future.
At 17 I was prescribed birth control pills, a common solution for stabilizing symptoms like mine. The pills promised to regulate my periods, balance my mood swings and bring relief to the chaos that ruled my life every month. For three years, my periods became manageable, my overall health improved, and for the first time in years, I felt like I had control over my body.
However, in 2022, my body stopped responding. Each month, I waited for the familiar signs of menstruation, only for nothing to happen. The absence of any bleeding, after years of such severe symptoms, was unnerving. It was almost as if I had swung too far in the opposite direction.
I began working closely with an endocrinologist who determined that my body’s lack of response to birth control pills might be linked to a thyroid issue like my mother’s. After undergoing extensive hormonal testing and a thyroid ultrasound, we arrived at a definitive diagnosis: hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto’s disease. I am in the early stages of the condition and have a long road ahead of balancing medications and watching my health consistently.
While I am deeply grateful for the incredible support system of doctors rallying behind me, the experience opened my eyes to a troubling reality. Despite the advancements in modern medicine, the lack of knowledge surrounding women’s health — particularly about gynecological and hormonal issues — is nothing short of shocking. So much remains a mystery, even to medical professionals.
Take, for example, potential diagnoses of endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome. Symptoms would need to check enough boxes in a narrow set of criteria to warrant further investigation, such as an ultrasound or laparoscopy.
I believe we must demand better research, more comprehensive education and greater advocacy for women’s health issues. Every woman deserves access to proper diagnostic care and treatment. It’s time we push for a health care system that truly listens to women’s concerns and takes their pain seriously.
Zoe Leitner is a fourth-year business administration major.
“My public health story” essays originated from an assignment on public health storytelling for a public health messaging and dissemination course led by Brittney Dixon-Daniel, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of the Bachelor of Public Health program.