Thunderbirds netballer Tayla Williams risked menopause to end debilitating pain of endometriosis

Tayla Williams kept her endometriosis agony a secret for years for fear she would lose her netball dream. She is speaking out now in the hope nobody else goes through the same pain.

Crippling cramps, long heavy cycles, dizzy spells and headaches – but Thunderbirds’ netballer Tayla Williams kept her struggle secret for years for fear speaking out would put a stopper in her sporting career.

It took Williams, now 23, seven years to get an answer for the debilitating pain that would strike her down month after month during her menstrual cycle.

With no answers she struggled mentally wondering if she was just making it up, imagining the pain or if she just had a low pain threshold.

“I remember it clearly. I was 15 and I was in a lot of pain and playing sport had become really difficult,” Williams said.

“I had been selected in the under-15s state team (South Australia) and remember thinking how am I going to play a week of netball if I’ve got my period like this.

“I tried to speak to my mum but she was like ‘ you will be fine’.

Williams just assumed heavy bleeding for ten or more days and crippling cramps were normal.

“It felt like someone was squeezing your insides 24/7, stabbing pains, headaches and bloating,” she said.

“That was one big thing for me. I tried lots of diets and avoided foods and would still wake up being really bloated. There was no pattern to it.

Tayla Williams feared her career would end if she spoke about her pain

“I’d go to netball feeling so heavy and gross.

“If I was exercising and it was really bad I’d get dizzy spells as well.”

When Williams turned 17 she moved to Adelaide.

She saw a female GP who referred her to a gynaecologist who put her on the pill – which did help manage the symptoms. They then spent years trying different medications and options to relieve her pain.

HIDING THE PAIN

Williams managed to keep her struggle a secret from the team and coaching staff until 2020.

Moving into a Covid-19 hub made it impossible to hide anything.

“I had one week where it was really, really bad,” Williams said. “I remember one team meeting where I couldn’t even sit up. I was laying on the ground in a ball. After that my coach asked if I was all right. It turned out I had cysts and polyps that were making it worse.

“But it was from there that the conversation started with the coaches.”

Despite the coaches knowing what she was going through Williams said she still found it difficult to be honest, especially as a training partner.

“I was really sick before the Lightning game (in 2020) and I hadn’t slept. But one of the other girls was out and I had an opportunity to play. I should have said something as I didn’t play well but I didn’t want to ruin my chance or an opportunity I might not have again,” Williams said.

Last year Williams decided something had to change.

“I finally got to the point last year, after trying everything, I tried one of the strongest things, which is essentially an injection that puts you into menopause. You have to have it every month and it was quite successful but it is not sustainable for a 22-year-old,” she said.

“You are basically shutting down your whole reproductive system. It helped with the pain but I had to weigh up the long term effects.”

Williams eventually underwent surgery but the results were not long lasting

TAKING MORE SERIOUS ACTION

Last year with an extended off-season and Williams too old for the state representative competitions she opted to have a laparoscopy – currently the only way to have endometriosis officially confirmed.

“I’d put it off because we would train and play all year round and I couldn’t articulate to my coaches that I needed to have surgery, especially as they might not even find anything. I didn’t want to be wasting anyone’s time,” Williams said.

“Going into the surgery was still daunting.

“I was wondering if I was doing the right thing, would they find anything, am I just wasting everyone’s time – spending all this time wondering if something is even wrong with you really does play with your mind.”

The surgery confirmed what Williams had long suspected – endometriosis. They were able to remove most of it.

“It was a sigh of relief finding out that I did have it because it had all been worth it – there was something wrong and I hadn’t just made it all up in my head,” Williams said.

For six months Williams was able to experience life without pain or heavy menstrual cycles.

“It hasn’t lasted as long as I would have liked and I’m adjusting back to a bit more pain but the first six months were really good,” Williams said.

Despite the disease being confirmed Williams said she still keeps her pain close to her chest.

“I had a bad day a couple of weeks ago and didn’t say anything because I am at the point in my career where I am still fighting for my spot and I’m scared if I say something that could be the final nail in the coffin of me playing or not playing,” Williams said.

And as hard as it is to juggle the pain and perform at an elite level Williams said there is nothing she would rather be doing than playing netball professionally.

“I love my netball and this group of girls. There are times it is hard but I’d still have the same pain if I wasn’t playing netball,” she said.

Williams encouraged all young women with abnormal menstrual cycles to talk to a GP.

“You need to advocate for yourself. No one else will. You might not get the answer you want the first or second or third time but you have to keep pushing,” she said.

Originally published as Thunderbirds netballer Tayla Williams risked menopause to end debilitating pain of endometriosis