When I turned 30, I went off the pill. I was in a relationship and was starting to think about kids. I had no idea the pill had been masking a chronic disease growing in my body. Almost overnight, I exploded with all the hallmarks of endometriosis, not that I knew it at the time.

I experienced zombie-level fatigue, bloated endo belly and constant, severe pelvic pain. Within months I became a shell of myself. Intimacy was the last thing on my mind, and my relationship broke down. As a leader at work in a highly competitive environment, I was struggling to keep it together. On the verge of a breakdown, I went into my boss’s office and crumbled. He wisely said: ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Dare to change’. This struck a chord. As an engineer, I was built to solve problems, and now I was presented with my biggest challenge yet. 

So, I started asking questions. Lots of questions!

The first gynaecologist I saw told me it was ‘just PCOS’, gave me the pill and sent me home. Anyone with endometriosis knows this rollercoaster - the misdiagnoses, misinformation about your pain, and the haunting fear of infertility with no clear answers in sight.

Feeling gaslit, I went on to see a number of medical and holistic practitioners, took lots of tests, and collected lots of data. But not once did anyone link everything to endo. It wasn’t until I finally saw a Fertility Associates specialist, who took one look at me and instantly figured out it was endo, that I got some answers. Surgery was booked, which revealed (and removed) stage 4 endometriosis.

But surgery wasn’t the end. Endo doesn’t disappear post-surgery, and neither do fertility issues. I wasn’t about to let endo control my life, or have it ruin my chances of becoming a mum. So, I put my engineering problem solving background to work and became my own guinea pig, testing and developing strategies to stop endo.

For six years, I researched, experimented and talked to experts - digging deep into all the latest research to understand what I could do to live well with endo. I have learned the best way to manage this evasive disease is to look after the ‘endo-four-fecta’: my gut health, nervous system, inflammation (immune system) and hormone metabolism. I created simple yet effective ways to do all this and took back control of my life. I am no longer in pain, I don’t even get PMS and I easily got pregnant!

Here’s how I did it:

Number one – make plants a priority. I’m not saying you have to go vegan, but filling up with a variety of nutritious, plant-based whole foods in their most natural state is the ultimate way to combat endo. A plant-centric diet helps curb inflammation, detox hormones and nurture your gut microbiome, in turn improving your endo belly and energy levels within weeks. When I first started on this journey, I cut out meat and raw dairy and only ate plant-based food for nine months. This healed my gut dysbiosis and built a resilient gut microbiome. A mere five days can spark gut changes, but 90 days is a good time frame to start seeing a change. I slowly re-introduced one serving of meat a day and dairy, like A2 milk and hard cheese. But still steer clear of refined carbs, processed foods or sugary snacks. I’ve learned that as long as my diet is around 80 per cent plant-based, my body can handle whatever the other 20 per cent is. It's not about restriction, it's about enrichment.  

Two – quit coffee. I know you’re going to hate me for this, but it’s proven to be a big part of causing inflammation and pain. Put down that oak milk latte and don’t pick it up again. It has been doing the dirty on you. If you are a sufferer with any stress in your life, coffee is only going to add fuel to the already raging stress hormone (cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine) fire. It’s hard to remove life’s stressors that are out of our control. Coffee is an easy one we can control. If I didn’t have endo, I’d no doubt drink it. But it’s a critical sacrifice I make to help regulate my stress response and inflammation - both vital for fertility. Since dropping coffee six years ago, I have never looked back - I sleep better, have more energy, less anxiety and most importantly, no pain. 

The third step is to eliminate toxins, and alcohol is the big one. Alcohol causes inflammation in the body that can intensify endo symptoms and infertility. I found that even just one glass of wine triggered endo pain. Ditching it improved my evenings out and the days after. It’s also like dynamite for gut health, annihilating the good stuff. Wine was my best friend, even when I could literally feel each glass exacerbating my pain, so I know how hard this can be. But I had to decide, sip in pain or get off the booze. I still drink occasionally, mainly on special occasions. But because I have a chronic disease, this is a lifestyle choice to minimise my pain and discomfort.

Lastly, breathe. Or meditate, connect with nature, or try yin yoga’s gentle movements. Do whatever brings those stress levels down and activates your parasympathetic nervous system. Relaxing enough that you enter your body’s natural healing mode. This deep rest can reduce pain, inflammation, anxiety and boost energy and nourish the ‘endo-four-fecta’.

Try alternate nostril breathing, or 'Nadi Shodhana', which is a simple yet powerful technique. Simply sit down with a tall spine and relax. Gently close your right nostril with your thumb. Inhale deeply through your left nostril. Seal your left nostril with your ring finger, open the right, and exhale. Inhale through the right nostril. Close it off, open the left, and exhale. Repeat this cycle for 5-10 rounds, aiming for smooth, even breaths that fill your belly. Or find a comfy spot, sit upright and place one hand on your lower ribs, feeling the rise and fall as you breathe in for four and out for eight. Taking a few minutes each day to just breathe is a small step that can lead to big changes.

These are just some of the learnings I implemented, with the support of friends, family and practitioners empowering me to regain control over my infertility. And at 35, after years of worrying, let me effortlessly create my son.

No one should have to battle their endo journey on their own, so to help, I’m excited to offer the chance to win an annual subscription to the app I developed, Endo45. Our app provides personalised evidence-based tools and guidance designed to help you build habits that support both fertility and endo wellness. It may even lead you to endo remission, like it has for me.

Click to sign up today for your chance to win

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Juliet Oliver is a single mum and engineer who created the Endo45 app to share how she paved a path to endo remission. After becoming frustrated with the medical system's inability to provide answers and relief, the Endo45 app offers instant insights and the potential for fast results based on the latest medical and functional research. Like a boot camp for endometriosis sufferers, the app offers expert support and personalised recommendations for each user depending on their specific goal such as reducing pain, enhancing fertility, or improving mental health, taking them on a journey towards living well with endo.