Elen Wyn from The Traitors opened up about her struggle with menstruation which started when she was around 14. She recalled feeling that something was wrong as her periods differed from what she perceived as normal.
The debilitating pain became too much and her mother took her to a GP. Speaking to WalesOnline, Elen shared her encounter with the doctor: “I spoke with him and I told him about the symptoms I was experiencing, and he told me, ‘you’re a child, your pain tolerance is just low at the moment. Your body will get used to it as you develop’ and that I should just kind of ‘get used to it’.”
Elen, who comes from Cardiff, was given the contraceptive pill, which is often prescribed not only for birth control but also to alleviate menstrual cramps. Yet, she opted not to take it since she wasn’t sexually active and didn’t believe it suited her best. She found that painkillers didn’t ease her symptoms.
She revealed what life was like dealing with the pains: “It was a huge burden on me because I’d skip classes in school, I’d phone in sick, and I remember being really hard on myself. I was aware that others had periods, all girls were in the same boat as me, but how come I was the only one who had to miss school or had to miss sports.
“I couldn’t do anything. I really hated myself for it. The burden mentally is sometimes worse than the physical burden, especially during the 10 years I was not diagnosed because I was so hard on myself.”
As time went on, Elen’s condition exacerbated. It was only after moving to Cardiff for her university studies at the age of 21 that she finally received a diagnosis of endometriosis.
She recounted her ordeal, saying: “It got to the point where I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t function. I was living with my sister and she would have to do things for me because I couldn’t get out of bed. I would miss college. I would have to phone in sick from work and I hated it. So I decided to do some research myself and I came across TikToks and articles discussing endometriosis and I remember thinking, I might have this condition.”
After moving to Cardiff, Elen consulted a new GP but encountered a similar dismissive attitude as before. This time, however, she stood her ground and insisted on seeing a female GP.
She shared: “She was amazing and she really validated me and she told me I could have endometriosis.”
Despite clear results from an ultrasound and an MRI, Elen persisted and was eventually given a laparoscopy, which revealed her stage four endometriosis. Last year, at the age of 24 and a decade after first seeking help, Elen finally received her official diagnosis.
The accomplished opera singer voiced her dissatisfaction with the medical community’s approach to managing her severe pain, which often involves prescribing contraceptives rather than seeking a diagnosis or recommending lifestyle changes. She stated: “I’m quite balanced with my inflammation, and the symptoms I experience at the moment, and that is due to my own research rather than the support I’ve received by medical experts.
“I know I am just one in thousands and thousands of women who are in the same boat, and there are probably 14-year-old girls going to see GPs every single day and being told the same thing I was told, that they should suffer.”
Elen also shared her concerns about her fertility, given the length of time she lived undiagnosed with the condition. She revealed: “I’ve read horror stories about girls who have gone on the pill, even though they did have endometriosis and it was never explored, and they’re on the pill for 10-15 years and then when they’re in their 30s they decide they want to have kids; because that endometriosis has continued to spread all across their organs they cannot conceive anymore.
“I would like to have a baby one day, however I’m currently on a waiting list that’s four plus years in the NHS, and I am aware that in those four years I don’t know how much my endometriosis is going to spread. So I’m currently saving up for private surgery but that’s not an option for me financially at the moment. I am trying to stay positive though because many women with endometriosis have still been able to conceive.”
Endometriosis UK, a leading charity, highlights that 1 in 10 women suffer from endometriosis from puberty to menopause, with symptoms persisting throughout their lives. The charity also notes that 78% of sufferers feel their pain is often dismissed or not taken seriously by medical professionals.
The financial strain of endometriosis is felt across the UK, with some patients paying as much as £11,154 for private hysterectomies due to NHS delays, according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Endometriosis UK estimates the condition costs the UK economy around £8.2 billion annually, factoring in treatment expenses, lost work, and healthcare costs.
Elen Wyn has opened up about her decision to join the cast of the Traitors, revealing that her motivation was not just for the competition but also to shine a light on her condition. She said: “What I really love about the show is there are many authentic people who participate in the show and they raise awareness for different kinds of conditions and I kind of saw it as being an opportunity to potentially raise awareness.”
She expressed her appreciation for the representation of strong women on the series, saying: “I’ve really loved the focus on strong, empowered women in this series. It’s been great and there’s something quite bittersweet about the female community I’ve kind of created on my social media because it’s so lovely that many people understand my story and that can kind of relate to me.”
However, Elen also touched on the more sombre aspect of her journey, stating: “However, it’s also really heartbreaking that there are so many of us in the same boat and suffering and the fact that not many steps are being taken at the moment to kind of solve the issue.”
In addition to discussing her reasons for participating in the show, Elen Wyn gave some insight into the duty of care provided by the BBC show’s producers, expressing her gratitude for their support regarding her endometriosis.
The Traitors contestant has pledged to use her social media presence throughout endometriosis awareness month to highlight the condition. She plans to share her personal experiences with endometriosis, discuss anti-inflammatory foods that alleviate her symptoms, collaborate with brands offering products that claim to ease the symptoms, and answer as many questions from her followers as she can.
Discussing the situation in Wales, Elen voiced her frustration with the lengthy waiting lists in the UK, noting that the issue is particularly acute in South Wales. She remarked: “It seems to be an issue across the UK, but especially in south Wales at the moment. I do know that anything related to female health is really, really bad and they need to be more educated.
“They need to gain a better understanding of the female reproductive system and symptoms. I also think they need to remove the stigma around it because it’s a condition that’s related to female hormones, people tend to link the symptoms with ‘are girls just being dramatic’.”
She continued, stressing the need for better understanding of the female reproductive system and its symptoms, and called for the removal of stigma surrounding conditions linked to female hormones. Elen pointed out that people often dismiss symptoms as women being dramatic, adding: “However, the only GP who didn’t dismiss me was a woman, it’s so frustrating. I cannot help but hyperfocus on that aspect.”
In a positive development for 2022, specialist endometriosis nurses have been appointed in each health board in Wales to enhance services for the chronic condition, which affects one in ten women.
The Welsh Government has earmarked a £1m per annum investment to fund positions as part of a broader initiative to enhance women’s health services. Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales who previously served as Health Minister for Wales, commented: “Historically, women’s health services have not had equal treatment and women’s voices have been ignored. I am determined that we raise the standards of all women’s health services in Wales.”
Eluned further elaborated on the efforts being made, saying, “Our Women’s Health Implementation Group is progressing vital work to support women’s health and the appointment of a dedicated endometriosis nurse in each health board will help raise awareness, diagnosis and treatment of this serious condition across Wales. I have heard of distressing accounts of misdiagnosis and women with this condition not being taken seriously with this condition, I am determined that women in Wales get the service they deserve.”
Addressing the current challenges faced by those suffering from endometriosis in Wales, including diagnosis delays and long waiting lists, the Welsh Government stated: “Endometriosis is one of eight priorities in our Women’s Health Plan for Wales, which sets out key actions that will lead to improvements.
“We have already funded endometriosis nurses in every health board, developed the Endometriosis Cymru website and provided £50 million of additional funding to help cut the longest waiting times, which includes gynaecological conditions. Funding of £3m will also be used to establish a Women’s Health Hub in every health board by March, 2026, to support timely diagnosis and management of menstrual conditions including endometriosis.”
The Welsh Government has announced that a dedicated women’s health research centre set to open this April will provide crucial evidence to enhance healthcare for women in Wales.
Following the unveiling of the Women’s Health Plan for Wales at the Senedd on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Endometriosis UK stated it was: “pleased that the Welsh Government have recognised the seriousness of endometriosis and adenomyosis, and prioritised these in the Women’s Health Plan. Diagnosis times in Wales are the longest in the UK and increasing rather than decreasing, taking an average of almost 10 years in Wales.”