Laure; she/they; Endometriosis and PCOS
Endometriosis is a painful disorder where the tissue that normally lines the uterus forms on the outside, or even the bowels and intestines. This disorder can cause menstrual irregularity and increased pain during the menstrual cycle. Although it is thought that around 20% of people with uteruses have Endometriosis, many go undiagnosed due to the medical biases towards female-bodied patients. This same bias has led to a lack of research on this and similar disorders.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS is a hormonal disorder that around 1/10 people with uteruses suffer from. Symptoms include irregular menstruation, high androgen levels, and painful cysts that form on the ovaries. Those with PCOS may have trouble producing eggs.
This subject described their chronic pain as "rotting" and associated it with greens, purples and reds of bruised flesh. They thought earthworms wriggling in and out of the area they feel the most pain would accurately depict the sensation. The skin around the worms is hues of decomposition. They said the conditions feel gory to them, and wanted this represented in the piece.