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Renaikha; PCOS Adenomyosis (uteri), and possible Endometriosis
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.
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. Adenomyosis is similar, where the endometrial tissue grows inside the uterus and into the uterine wall.
The subject chose southern fire ants to represent the persistent and debilitating pain she experiences many days especially in the mornings. Growing up in the South, and familiar with the burning of fire ant bites, she felt this was a good metaphor for her chronic pain.