Hello Elia community! I'm Margaux, and I answer your questions by email and on Facebook. I've decided to share with you the most beautiful testimonials from our customers. If you'd like to share your story or just tell us about your life with our Elia panties, don't hesitate to write to me on : [email protected]
To begin, I'd like to tell you 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 associated with this disease, as well as those linked to pregnancy, since she has recently become a mother.
6 long years of pain and misunderstanding
lMarion had her first periods at the age of 12: abundant, irregular and very painful, they could last up to 15 days in a month. Long considered "normal", these pains lstayed with her until she was 18: sports sessions became a living hell, and outings with friends often had to be postponed.
"They were similar to appendicitis attacks, like very painful punches, or stabs from knives stuck in my lower abdomen".
Then one night, while she was asleep, an unbearable pain woke her up, knocking her unconscious.
"My parents immediately called SOS Médecin. The doctor thought it was appendicitis and then colic."
The next day, after an ultrasound scan, the verdict was in: 4 cysts, one of them 5 cm in diameter, were lodged in Marion's ovaries. The heavy 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 on artificial menopause for 1 year and took the pill continuously for 10 years."
At just 18 years of age, she was told that it would be very difficult for her to have a child. Adhesions and cysts had damaged her ovaries, and there was little chance of her ever becoming pregnant naturally.
"It was a shock and incomprehension. I was at an age when I wasn't yet thinking about pregnancy, and yet people were m'already announcing that I might never be able to be a mother."
Ten years of artificial pills and periods s followed, with ultrasound and MRI scans performed at the slightest sign of pain to check that the adhesions were not growing.
The desire for a child
Then came the desire to have a baby, and once again it was a long road for Marion and her husband. In addition to endometriosis and new adhesions, she suffers from premature ovarian failure. In other words, she has more or less the ovarian reserve of a woman aged 45.
The couple then entered a race to freeze Marion's oocytes and hope one day to have a baby. As French regulations are not very flexible on this subject, the only way out is to carry out a PMA (medically assisted procreation). Thanks to her doctor, Marion was able to enter a fast-track protocol for PMA.
But nothing swent according to plan: after an initial IVF, five oocytes were harvested. Only one embryo survived. It s'turns out 15 days after IVF that this little "embryo warrior" was the one.
"Here I am, 9 months later, a mother. Today, my daughter is 4 months old and I'm overjoyed. 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 once again had very heavy and random periods . At the time, she used tampons.
"I had recurring mycoses because tampons were drying out my vaginal mucosa. I had to find another solution.
She then decided to create a more suitable alternative for her: menstrual panties that would allow her to feel comfortable during this period.
"With the Elia panties I created with Apolline, I felt much freer. Wearing just one pair of panties is so simple, but what a relief!"
Before embarking on this Elia adventure, she had in fact tested other brands of menstrual panties.
"In creating Elia, I wanted to create feminine panties that s'adapted to every day of my cycle. It was important for them to be created with the most natural materials possible. We also wanted them to be 100% made in France.
As a result, the Elia brand sees the light of day in April 2019. Marion and Apolline work on the brand in parallel with their respective jobs. Marion is entering the PMA process. Elia is also a way of raising awareness of endometriosis.
Using panties
"During my pregnancy and especially at the beginning, m'menstrual panties served as panty liners. Ultra useful when you've just come out of MAP and are on progesterone therapy".
On her first day in the maternity ward, Marion wore the sanitary towels supplied by the medical department, as well as the famous "fillet panties" that all mothers remember! She then tried on the Elia panties and never left them, wearing only the ARMANDE shorty, as well as a new product (available soon on our e-shop).
"What comfort during postpartum! Since then, I've decided to give panties to all my girlfriends about to give birth, because the feeling of comfort and softness is so great! When Apolline and I created Elia, we never thought we'd get this far. this far. Today, we feel we're doing ourselves a favor, but we're also doing it for our friends, our daughters, our families, for you, who are reading this article, and for all women who are looking for better menstrual protection, healthier for their bodies and for the planet."
The fight against endometriosis
With ELIA, Marion has been able to become more involved in a battle that is close to her heart: the fight againstendometriosis.
" I wanted to find a way to make this disease known to as many people as possible, and have positive discussions with women who have a similar journey to mine. Giving a share of our profits back to research and the fight against this disease was an obvious choice for me".
Shall we keep in touch?