Skip to content

Endometriosis: The Thornaby woman who went undiagnosed for 12 years

For 12 years, Tara Doherty's endometriosis went undiagnosed.

The 26-year-old, from Thornaby, started her periods when she was 10 years old and was put on the contraceptive pill by the age of 12.

After years of fatigue, trips to A&E, a chemically-induced menopause and multiple disciplinaries from work due to poor attendance, she was finally diagnosed with endometriosis in 2019.

The chronic illness affects one in 10 women in the UK and can cause debilitating pain, heavy periods and infertility - with an average wait of eight years for a diagnosis.

In March 2021, she started an Instagram account to share her experiences with the condition in the hope of helping other young women suffering to know "there is a light at the end of the tunnel".

She shared her story as part of Endometriosis Awareness Month.

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].

17 March 2022

Thornaby-on-Tees

Explore More

The word menopause on a lightbox surrounded by pills

Doctor answers your menopause questions

Endometriosis patient Lara Stevens believes the condition should be treated more urgently

Treat endometriosis more urgently, says patient

Wendy says she lost consciousness twice, vomited and asked for the procedure to be stopped

Hysteroscopy felt like insides were being 'clawed'

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Hill walkers

Mountain rescuers' social media novice troubles

Karen Farquharson, from Aberdeen, said she didn't know who she was during the menopause

'Menopause made me feel like I couldn't cope'

Catriona Aitken - who has glasses and tied-back brown hair and is wearing a black floral dress - sat on an orange sofa, with the colourful panels of the BBC Wales office behind her

What is chemical menopause?

Sophie Richards' condition was not covered by NHS fertility support

Woman spends £15k freezing eggs for future baby

Victoria Atkins

The NHS was created by men for men, says health secretary

Molly Fenton, founder of Love Your Period

Women told alternative treatments could risk health

Heledd Roberts on the terrace at BBC Cymru in Cardiff Central Square

'I was crying in excruciating pain every day'

Victoria Poole

Distress at smear test review wait

Northern Ireland

Natashja Wilson

I noticed a bulging lump sensation in my vagina

Zara Corbett

'Women should not be left suffering this pain'

Northern Ireland

Naga Munchetty at the House of Commons

Naga Munchetty: 'I screamed the place down'

Angela Dullaghan and Christine Terzo

'I was crying out for help for my chronic UTI'

Taelor Shand

Woman without womb accuses NHS of discrimination

NE Scotland, Orkney & Shetland

Cleveland police officers pursue a swan on the A66

Swan brings morning motorists to a standstill

Riley Peebles and Nyle Flanagan

Weed-fighting 10-year-olds spread community joy

Dolly Parton impersonator outside Meta's London HQ

'It's so disheartening' - Dolly Parton tribute act on Meta 'ban'

Entertainment & Arts

Naga Munchetty

Naga Munchetty: ‘I’m in pain because I have Adenomyosis’

Riley smiles and holds a laptop screen with Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively on it.

Meeting Deadpool 'means everything' to boy, 9

Riley, who has cancer, is surprised after an online appeal to meet the Marvel star.

Bob the therapy dog, sat underneath a try in a pool of light at nighttime

Meet Bob the therapy dog who supports the homeless

The black Labrador goes out on street sweeps to help a charity speak with vulnerable people.

Norman, smiling, at the wheel of a bus

Bus driver retires after 54 years of service

Norman Simpson says he is "very sad" to be stepping down at the age of 86.

A woman walking and dancing alongside a busy road. She is wearing a white short-sleeved top over a black long-sleeved one and slightly cropped black sports leggings. She is waving to someone off camera as cars drive past.

Meet the Billingham Dancing Lady

Helen Gordon can be seen every morning dancing through the streets of Billingham.

Margaret Dillon

'I just love life. Age is just a number'

Meet Nana Dillon - an 86-year-old from Middlesbrough who is proving "age is just a number".

Mother Jane sits on sofa next to one of her children

Children scared rioters would break in through broken window

A family has told BBC Panorama how they were terrified rioters would break into their Middlesbrough home after their front window was smashed in.

The children staged a peaceful protest by the rope-swing

Rope-swing victory for pint-sized protesters

An MP has praised a group of children following a peaceful protest to save a beloved rope-swing.

A police dog bites a man on the buttock.

Middlesbrough and Hartlepool rioters jailed

Two men who joined disorder after a day at the bingo and a woman who pushed a bin are among those jailed.

Cole Stewart on CCTV throwing bricks

Footage shows teenager throwing bricks at police

An 18-year-old is sentenced after being caught throwing bricks at police during violent disorder.

Brendan Nwabichie

Fundraiser for carer after car set alight in riot

A Middlesbrough carer returns home after a 12-hour shift to find his car burnt out.

Volunteers team up to unearth 19th century lighthouse

Archaeological dig 'like a close community'

Tees Archaeology enlists the help of 47 volunteers for a week-long excavation in Hartlepool.

A group of three men fishing at a water's edge

Fishing helps addicts to rebuild their lives

Tackling Addiction uses fishing to offer support to people struggling with substance misuse issues.

PC Maverick Reddington was stabbed under his armpit and describes the incident as "absolute bedlam".

Bodycam footage shows police fighting off knifeman

PC Maverick Reddington was stabbed under his armpit and describes the attack as "absolute bedlam".

Two men play a game of Warhammer

Tabletop wargamers talk about general election

Wargamers in Middlesbrough give their views on politics ahead of the general election.

Graphic showing BBC general election branding

From 'I know nowt about politics' to election savvy

Middlesbrough builder Kain Jones-Jemson, who is 21, is speed-learning about politics.

House explosion

Watch: House explosion caught on doorbell camera

A doorbell camera captures the moment a house is destroyed in an explosion in Middlesbrough.

Three masked men

BBC goes inside estates where residents say crime has made life brutal

Crime is the biggest election issue, people in Middlesbrough estates tell the BBC's Ed Thomas.

Leyla Ozturk

'Football literally saved my life'

Leyla Ozturk was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after suffering a neck injury playing football.

A younger woman hugs an older woman

Neighbours transform 94-year-old's 'jungle' garden

Dot had struggled to maintain her garden following a stroke and the death of her husband.

Connie and Dennis Cutts celebrating 70 years of marriage at the Dorman's Club with half a pint of lager each

Couple celebrate 70 years at club where they met

Connie and Dennis Cutts celebrate 70 years of marriage at the Dorman's Club, where they first met.