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Nicole's Story
Nicole’s pain began when she was just a teenager. At first, her symptoms were brushed off as anxiety and depression. Doctors placed her in psychiatric programs, prescribed medications that made her lose vision, and told her to “stop thinking about it.” For years, Nicole was treated as if her suffering was all in her head.
In reality, Nicole had endometriosis, a systemic inflammatory disease that affects the entire body. It took visits to more than 50 gynecologists, countless dismissals, and years of missed school, friendships, and life experiences before she finally found a specialist who confirmed what she had known all along: something was deeply wrong. Surgeons discovered 73 lesions across her pelvic organs.
Nicole’s journey has been defined by resilience. What nearly broke her became fuel for advocacy. She now fights to make excision surgery, the gold standard for treatment, more accessible to women everywhere. Through her nonprofit and work with SHE+, Nicole is determined to ensure no girl has to wait over a decade for answers or be told her pain is “just in her head.”
Nicole's Story
Nicole’s pain began when she was just a teenager. At first, her symptoms were brushed off as anxiety and depression. Doctors placed her in psychiatric programs, prescribed medications that made her lose vision, and told her to “stop thinking about it.” For years, Nicole was treated as if her suffering was all in her head.
In reality, Nicole had endometriosis, a systemic inflammatory disease that affects the entire body. It took visits to more than 50 gynecologists, countless dismissals, and years of missed school, friendships, and life experiences before she finally found a specialist who confirmed what she had known all along: something was deeply wrong. Surgeons discovered 73 lesions across her pelvic organs.
Nicole’s journey has been defined by resilience. What nearly broke her became fuel for advocacy. She now fights to make excision surgery, the gold standard for treatment, more accessible to women everywhere. Through her nonprofit and work with SHE+, Nicole is determined to ensure no girl has to wait over a decade for answers or be told her pain is “just in her head.”
Nicole’s pain began when she was just a teenager. At first, her symptoms were brushed off as anxiety and depression. Doctors placed her in psychiatric programs, prescribed medications that made her lose vision, and told her to “stop thinking about it.” For years, Nicole was treated as if her suffering was all in her head.
In reality, Nicole had endometriosis, a systemic inflammatory disease that affects the entire body. It took visits to more than 50 gynecologists, countless dismissals, and years of missed school, friendships, and life experiences before she finally found a specialist who confirmed what she had known all along: something was deeply wrong. Surgeons discovered 73 lesions across her pelvic organs.
Nicole’s journey has been defined by resilience. What nearly broke her became fuel for advocacy. She now fights to make excision surgery, the gold standard for treatment, more accessible to women everywhere. Through her nonprofit and work with SHE+, Nicole is determined to ensure no girl has to wait over a decade for answers or be told her pain is “just in her head.”
Nicole's Story
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Lupe's Story
In 2018, just three weeks after losing her mother, Lupe was diagnosed with stage zero breast cancer. With no family history and few symptoms, the news came as a shock. What she remembers most from that time was hearing the word “cancer” and feeling everything else fade into the background.
Lupe faced her treatment with quiet strength. She chose surgery and radiation, but what no one prepared her for were the lasting effects on her body and intimacy. Radiation forced her into menopause almost overnight, bringing hot flashes, dryness, and painful sex. When she asked her doctor for guidance, she was handed a single outdated handbook. It was a painful reminder of how often women’s questions about intimacy and sexual health are overlooked.
Determined not to stay silent, Lupe began researching on her own, finding progressive doctors, hormone replacement therapy, and pelvic floor therapy. She discovered community and support through SHE+, where conversations about survivorship, pleasure, and intimacy were not ignored but welcomed. Today, Lupe speaks publicly about her experience, helping other women understand that sexual health is part of overall health, and that no one should feel ashamed for seeking answers.
Lupe's Story
In 2018, just three weeks after losing her mother, Lupe was diagnosed with stage zero breast cancer. With no family history and few symptoms, the news came as a shock. What she remembers most from that time was hearing the word “cancer” and feeling everything else fade into the background.
Lupe faced her treatment with quiet strength. She chose surgery and radiation, but what no one prepared her for were the lasting effects on her body and intimacy. Radiation forced her into menopause almost overnight, bringing hot flashes, dryness, and painful sex. When she asked her doctor for guidance, she was handed a single outdated handbook. It was a painful reminder of how often women’s questions about intimacy and sexual health are overlooked.
Determined not to stay silent, Lupe began researching on her own, finding progressive doctors, hormone replacement therapy, and pelvic floor therapy. She discovered community and support through SHE+, where conversations about survivorship, pleasure, and intimacy were not ignored but welcomed. Today, Lupe speaks publicly about her experience, helping other women understand that sexual health is part of overall health, and that no one should feel ashamed for seeking answers.
In 2018, just three weeks after losing her mother, Lupe was diagnosed with stage zero breast cancer. With no family history and few symptoms, the news came as a shock. What she remembers most from that time was hearing the word “cancer” and feeling everything else fade into the background.
Lupe faced her treatment with quiet strength. She chose surgery and radiation, but what no one prepared her for were the lasting effects on her body and intimacy. Radiation forced her into menopause almost overnight, bringing hot flashes, dryness, and painful sex. When she asked her doctor for guidance, she was handed a single outdated handbook. It was a painful reminder of how often women’s questions about intimacy and sexual health are overlooked.
Determined not to stay silent, Lupe began researching on her own, finding progressive doctors, hormone replacement therapy, and pelvic floor therapy. She discovered community and support through SHE+, where conversations about survivorship, pleasure, and intimacy were not ignored but welcomed. Today, Lupe speaks publicly about her experience, helping other women understand that sexual health is part of overall health, and that no one should feel ashamed for seeking answers.
Lupe's Story
Brynn's Story
Brynn was only fifteen when her body first told her something was wrong. She went to doctor after doctor, only to be told it was anxiety or “all in her head.” Each visit left her feeling more dismissed and more alone.
As months passed, Brynn missed school, sports, and moments with her friends. She felt ashamed and convinced she might live in pain forever. “As a woman, you know when something is wrong. And when someone keeps telling you you’re wrong about your own body, it’s disheartening,” she recalled.
With her mother by her side, Brynn kept searching for answers. Finally, she found a gynecologist who listened. Within minutes, the doctor diagnosed her correctly and prescribed a single pill that gave her relief after months of suffering. “I couldn’t believe how easy it was. If someone had just looked me in the eye and understood what I was saying, I could have gotten those months of my life back,” Brynn said.
Now, ten years later, Brynn shares her story so that other young women know they are not alone. “Never be ashamed of your body. Never let anyone tell you how you’re feeling, because you are the only one who knows,” she said.
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Brynn's Story
Brynn was only fifteen when her body first told her something was wrong. She went to doctor after doctor, only to be told it was anxiety or “all in her head.” Each visit left her feeling more dismissed and more alone.
As months passed, Brynn missed school, sports, and moments with her friends. She felt ashamed and convinced she might live in pain forever. “As a woman, you know when something is wrong. And when someone keeps telling you you’re wrong about your own body, it’s disheartening,” she recalled.
With her mother by her side, Brynn kept searching for answers. Finally, she found a gynecologist who listened. Within minutes, the doctor diagnosed her correctly and prescribed a single pill that gave her relief after months of suffering. “I couldn’t believe how easy it was. If someone had just looked me in the eye and understood what I was saying, I could have gotten those months of my life back,” Brynn said.
Now, ten years later, Brynn shares her story so that other young women know they are not alone. “Never be ashamed of your body. Never let anyone tell you how you’re feeling, because you are the only one who knows,” she said.
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Brynn was only fifteen when her body first told her something was wrong. She went to doctor after doctor, only to be told it was anxiety or “all in her head.” Each visit left her feeling more dismissed and more alone.
As months passed, Brynn missed school, sports, and moments with her friends. She felt ashamed and convinced she might live in pain forever. “As a woman, you know when something is wrong. And when someone keeps telling you you’re wrong about your own body, it’s disheartening,” she recalled.
With her mother by her side, Brynn kept searching for answers. Finally, she found a gynecologist who listened. Within minutes, the doctor diagnosed her correctly and prescribed a single pill that gave her relief after months of suffering. “I couldn’t believe how easy it was. If someone had just looked me in the eye and understood what I was saying, I could have gotten those months of my life back,” Brynn said.
Now, ten years later, Brynn shares her story so that other young women know they are not alone. “Never be ashamed of your body. Never let anyone tell you how you’re feeling, because you are the only one who knows,” she said.
Brynn's Story
Turning Silence into Action
When women are ignored, the consequences ripple far beyond the doctor’s office. Dismissed symptoms become delayed diagnoses, and preventable suffering becomes years of pain. But change is possible. Whether you’re fighting to be heard in an appointment or pushing for systemic reform, you deserve the tools to advocate for better care.
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Turning Silence into Action
When women are ignored, the consequences ripple far beyond the doctor’s office. Dismissed symptoms become delayed diagnoses, and preventable suffering becomes years of pain. But change is possible. Whether you’re fighting to be heard in an appointment or pushing for systemic reform, you deserve the tools to advocate for better care.
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The SHE+ Foundation is a 501 (c) 3) nonprofit dedicated to ending healthcare dismissal through research, education, and advocacy. We fund critical studies, provide trusted resources, and work to ensure every woman receives the care she deserves.
Our Resource Hub
Our comprehensive resource hub provides evidence-based information for both patients and healthcare providers. From navigating complex diagnoses to understanding treatment options, we cut through the confusion with reliable, accessible resources that empower informed healthcare decisions.
The SHE+ Foundation is a (501c3) nonprofit dedicated to ending healthcare dismissal through research, education, and advocacy. We fund critical studies, provide trusted resources, and work to ensure every woman receives the care she deserves.
Our Resource Hub
Our comprehensive resource hub provides evidence-based information for both patients and healthcare providers. From navigating complex diagnoses to understanding treatment options, we cut through the confusion with reliable, accessible resources that empower informed healthcare decisions.
End The Dismissal
Every woman deserves to be heard, believed, and properly cared for. Your donation funds the research, resources, and advocacy needed to transform women's healthcare from the ground up.
When you give, you're not just supporting a cause, you're ensuring no woman has to fight alone for the care she deserves.
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Get updates on our fight to end healthcare dismissal, hear new women's stories, and learn how you can make a difference. Join our community of advocates working to ensure every woman's voice is heard.