How did endometriosis help me to overcome myself?

Hello Elia community ! I'm Margaux, I answer your questions by email and on Facebook. I decided to share with you the most beautiful testimonies of our customers. If you want to share your story or just tell us about your life with our Elia panties, don't hesitate to write to me at: margaux@elia-lingerie.com

To begin, I propose you to know a little more about the story of Marion, creator of Elia. Since the age of 12, Marion has suffered from heavy and extremely painful periods. At 18 she was diagnosed with advanced endometriosis. Today she tells you about her journey and the difficulties linked to this disease, as well as those linked to pregnancy, as she is a new mother.

6 long years of pain and misunderstanding

Marion had her first menstrual period at the age of 12: heavy, irregular and very painful, they could last up to 15 days in a month. For a long time considered "normal", these pains accompanied her until she was 18: sports sessions became a hell, and outings with friends were often postponed.

"They were similar to appendicitis attacks, like very painful punches, or knives stuck in my lower abdomen.

Then one night while she was sleeping, an unbearable pain woke her up, until she passed out.

"My parents immediately called SOS Doctor. The doctor thought it was an appendicitis attack and then colic.

The next day, after an ultrasound, the verdict finally fell: 4 cysts, one of which was 5 cm in diameter, were lodged on Marion's ovaries. The heaviness of the cysts had caused ovarian torsion and internal bleeding. Surgery was essential.

"I had the cysts removed and many adhesions cauterized. After that, I was put under artificial menopause for 1 year and I took the pill continuously for 10 years".

She was then told at only 18 years of age that she would surely have great difficulty in having a child. Adhesions and cysts had damaged her ovaries, and there was little chance that she would ever become pregnant naturally.

"It's shock and incomprehension. I was at an age where I was not yet thinking about pregnancy and yet I was already told that I might never be able to be a mother.

Ten years of the pill and artificial menstruation followed, and at the slightest pain, ultrasounds and MRIs were performed to check that the adhesions were not growing.

The desire for a child

Then the desire to have a baby arrived and it was once again a long journey for Marion and her husband. In addition to having endometriosis and new adhesions, she suffered from premature ovarian failure. That is, she has more or less the ovarian reserve of a 45-year-old woman.

The couple then entered a race to freeze Marion's oocytes and hope to have a baby one day. The French regulations being not very flexible on this subject, the only way out is to practice a PMA (medically assisted procreation). Very well followed and accompanied, Marion enters then, thanks to her doctor, in an accelerated protocol to launch a PMA.

But nothing happened as planned: after a first IVF, five oocytes were harvested. Only one embryo survived. It turns out 15 days after IVF that this little "embryo warrior" was the one.

"We were an almost hopeless case and yet... Here I am, 9 months later as a mom. Today, my daughter is 4 months old and I am very happy. I wish this happiness to all those who wish to be parents".

The creation of ELIA Lingerie

Without the pill for almost 2 years, Marion had again very heavy and random periods. At the time, she used tampons.

"I had repeated mycoses because of the tampons that dried out my vaginal mucosa. I had to find another solution.

She then decided to create an alternative more suitable for her: menstrual panties that would allow her to feel comfortable during this period.

"With the Elia panties that I had created with Apolline, I could feel much freer. Wearing only one pair of panties is so simple, but what a relief!"

Before launching this Elia adventure, she had indeed tested other brands of menstrual panties.

"When I created Elia, I wanted to create feminine panties that would fit every day of my cycle. It was important that they be created with the most natural materials possible. We also wanted a 100% French manufacture".

The Elia brand will be born in April 2019. Marion and Apolline work on the brand in parallel with their respective jobs. Marion is in the middle of the PMA process. Elia is also a way to make known the endometriosis of the greatest number.

The use of the panties

"During my pregnancy and especially at the beginning, the menstrual panties served as a panty liner. Ultra useful when you come out of MAP and you have progesterone treatment".

During her stay in the maternity ward, Marion wore the sanitary pads provided by the medical service on the first day, as well as the famous "panties-net" that all mothers remember! Then she tested the Elia panties to never leave them and only wear the ARMANDE shorty, as well as a novelty (soon available on our e-shop).

"What a comfort during a post partum! Since then, I decided to offer panties to all my friends about to give birth, so great is the feeling of comfort and softness! When we created Elia with Apolline, we didn't think we would go so far.