A band of support for Leeds women with debilitating condition

SUPPORT: NESS members Amanda Ward, Melissa Porter, Keisha Meek, Stephanie Jordon and Rosa Nolan-Warren.

Keisha Meek, from Leeds, who co-founded Northern Endometriosis Sisters Support (NESS) with fellow sufferers Melissa Porter and Abi Battle, said not enough is known about the condition, which is often dismissed as “bad period pain”.

Endometriosis sees cells like those in the lining of the womb found elsewhere in the body, such as the ovaries, bladder, bowel, and even the lungs.

Each month these cells react in the same way as those in the womb, building up and then breaking down and bleeding. According to charity Endometriosis UK, one in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK have the condition, which can cause chronic pain, fatigue, fertility problems, depression, issues with relationships and difficulties at work.

Miss Meek, 26, who has had nine surgeries due to the condition, the most recent in December, was moved to create an online support network after finding nothing specifically for women from Yorkshire.

NESS now has more than 350 members on Facebook, and has held regular meet-ups for women in Leeds, Wakefield, York and Hull, and aims to become a charity.

“A lot of women with endometriosis find that they lose friends because they are forced to cancel plans, or people think that they are lying or exaggerating about the pain. It can be quite lonely,” Miss Meek said.

“Since forming the group, we have all become really close - because we understand what each other is going through.”

The group has been such a success the founders were awarded the Advocate of the Year Award at The Primrose Ball last month, an event that raises funds for Endometriosis UK.

Keisha Meek has worked with Elmet and Rothwell Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke and Labour MP for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough, Gill Furniss, who is secretary to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis, on campaigns to raise awareness of the condition to employers.

Mr Shelbrooke said: “Raising awareness of the condition, especially among employers, is so important. Outwardly, you cannot see anything, but the pain is crippling. It is debilitating.”