When Emma emailed me about using Après for her pessary residue, she didn't just find a solution. She changed how I think about this whole business. Her story is proof: the unspoken parts of our lives are exactly the ones that need to be heard.
The email arrived on a Tuesday morning. Nothing fancy. No dramatic subject line. Just a woman, her story, and a quiet confession that stopped me in my tracks.
"I've been using vaginal pessaries for my endometriosis for over a year. Every morning I'd wake up and have to deal with the residue. I was using my finger to try to clear it out, and honestly, it made me feel disgusting. It was undignified. I started dreading my treatments, even though I knew they were helping me."
She went on to describe how she discovered Après, tried it for her morning routine, and felt clean for the first time in months. And then she wrote four words that I've thought about every day since: "You gave me back my dignity."
Emma's story didn't just make me emotional. It made me realise something fundamental: the parts of our lives we're most ashamed to share are often the ones that, when spoken aloud, connect us most deeply.
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and this year's theme is "Your Story Shaping Our Future" . It's a beautiful idea—that by sharing our experiences, we collectively shape better care, better research, and better understanding for the women who come after us.
But here's the thing about endometriosis stories. We know the big ones. The years of misdiagnosis. The excruciating pain dismissed by doctors. The fertility struggles. The surgeries. These stories are powerful. They need to be told.
But what about the small stories? The ones that happen in the bathroom at 6am? The ones about leakage and residue and the quiet shame of feeling like your body is out of control? The ones that seem too embarrassing, too "unsexy," too trivial to mention?
Emma's story taught me something. Those are the stories that shape the future. Because they're the stories that lead to solutions. They're the stories that tell us what women actually need. And they're the stories that, when shared, make other women feel less alone.
The Stories We Tell (and the Ones We Don't)
Let's be honest about how we talk about endometriosis.
In public, we talk about the clinical stuff. The statistics: one in seven Australian women by age 49 . The symptoms: pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, fatigue . The treatments: surgery, hormones, lifestyle changes.
In support groups, we talk about the big emotional stuff. The diagnosis journey. The pain no one believed. The loss of fertility. The impact on relationships.
All of this is vital. All of this needs to be said.
But there's another layer. The daily, practical, messy reality of living with a chronic condition that affects your vagina. The conversations that happen in whispers, if they happen at all.
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The morning after a pessary, when you're dealing with residue and wondering if you'll ever feel clean.
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The moment you realise you've stained another pair of underwear and you're so tired of it.
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The quiet shame of smelling "different" and assuming it's your fault.
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The exhaustion of constantly managing your body, constantly checking, constantly hiding.
These stories feel too small to share. Too embarrassing. Too "gross." So we keep them to ourselves. And in the silence, we assume we're alone.
Real Life Story:
Emma didn't think her story was worth telling. She messaged me almost apologetically, like she was bothering me with something trivial. But when I read her words—"using my finger, it made me feel disgusting, it was undignified"—I felt a jolt of recognition.
Not because I have endometriosis. But because I know what it's like to have a body that feels out of control. To deal with something that no one prepared you for. To suffer in silence because you're not sure if anyone else would understand.
I replied immediately: "Emma, your story is not trivial. It's exactly what I need to hear. Thank you for trusting me."
She wrote back: "I wasn't sure if anyone would care about the 'messy' stuff. But it's been such a relief to find a solution. I just wanted someone to know."
She wanted someone to know. Not for recognition. Not for anything grand. Just to be seen. To have her experience acknowledged. To know that what she was going through mattered.
The Power of the "Unsexy" Story
When Emma shared her story, it did something remarkable. It expanded my understanding of what Après could be. Until that moment, I'd thought of it as a post-sex product. Emma showed me it was something more: a tool for dignity in medical treatment.
That one story changed the direction of my business. It changed the conversations I'm having. It changed the content I'm creating. Emma's "unsexy" story is literally shaping the future of what I do.
And that's the point.
The stories we're most hesitant to share are often the most powerful. Because they're the ones that reveal real needs. They're the ones that connect us on a human level. They're the ones that lead to innovation.
When we only share the polished, palatable parts of our lives, we miss the mess. And the mess is where solutions are born.
The Theme That Fits: "Your Story Shaping Our Future"
The Endometriosis Awareness Month 2026 theme—"Your Story Shaping Our Future"—was chosen because advocacy and storytelling are powerful forces for change . The Endometriosis Foundation of America's campaign notes that "awareness starts with a conversation, and each conversation is a step toward a world where endometriosis is understood, diagnosed early, and treated effectively" .
But those conversations need to include everything. Not just the clinical. Not just the emotional. But the practical, the messy, the "unsexy." Because the future we're shaping isn't just about better diagnosis and treatment. It's about better experience of those treatments.
It's about a future where no woman uses her finger to clear residue because she doesn't know there's another way.
It's about a future where doctors ask: "How are you managing the aftermath?" not just "Are your symptoms improving?"
It's about a future where we talk openly about leakage and residue because they're just part of the story, not something to be ashamed of.
That's the future Emma is helping shape. And you can too.
How Sharing Changes Everything
If you're reading this and nodding along, you might be wondering: Okay, but what does sharing actually do?
Here's what happens when you share the "unsexy" parts of your story:
1. You validate someone else's experience. When Sarah read Emma's story, she wrote to me: "I thought I was the only one dealing with this. I've never told anyone. Not my partner. Not my doctor." In that moment, Emma's story wasn't just about her. It was a lifeline for someone else.
2. You help others find solutions. Emma's story introduced Après to women who would never have considered it. One message. One story. And suddenly, a whole group of women had a new tool in their toolkit.
3. You challenge what's considered "normal." When we only share the sanitised versions of our lives, we create a false standard. We think everyone else is handling things better than we are. Sharing the messy reality breaks that illusion.
4. You guide innovation. Emma's story changed my business. It changed what I create, what I talk about, what I prioritise. Your story could do the same for someone else's product, service, or research.
5. You build community. There's nothing like finding someone who understands the specific, weird, uncomfortable thing you're going through. That connection is healing.
The Après Connection: A Story That Changed Everything
Emma's story is the reason I'm writing this post. It's the reason we're having this conversation about the hidden burden of treatment. It's the reason I'm now thinking about Après as a tool for so much more than I originally imagined.
Her story shaped my future. And I hope, by sharing it, it shapes yours too.
If you use vaginal pessaries and have struggled with the morning-after residue, know this: you're not alone. And there's a tool that can help. Après is soft, gentle, and designed to absorb residue quickly and comfortably. No fishing. No shame. Just clean.
But more than that, your story matters. Whether you share it with a friend, a support group, your doctor, or a stranger on the internet, your experience is valid. Your struggle is real. And your voice could be the one that helps someone else feel seen.
Your Top Questions Answered!
1. "But isn't my story too small to matter?"
No story is too small. Emma's was a single email about her morning routine. It changed everything. The "small" stories are often the ones that connect us most deeply.
2. "I'm not ready to share publicly. Is that okay?"
Absolutely. Sharing doesn't have to be public. It can be one conversation with a friend. A post in a private support group. An email to a brand. Even just naming your experience to yourself is a form of sharing.
3. "What if no one responds?"
Sometimes sharing feels like shouting into the void. But even if no one responds immediately, your story is out there. Someone will find it when they need it. Emma didn't know I'd share her story with thousands of women. She just wanted someone to know.
4. "How do I start sharing?"
Start small. Find one person you trust. Say: "Can I tell you something about my treatment that I've never told anyone?" Or write it down, just for yourself. Or share anonymously in a forum. However it feels safe for you.
Your 4-Step Guide to Sharing Your Story
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Name Your Experience: Start by acknowledging to yourself that what you're going through matters. The residue, the leakage, the shame—it's real. It's valid. It's worth talking about.
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Find Your Container: Decide where it feels safe to share. A trusted friend. A private Facebook group. A one-on-one with your specialist. A journal. Choose a space that feels supportive.
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Speak Your Truth: You don't need to be eloquent. You don't need to have a "point." Just say what happened. How it felt. What you need. Your truth is enough.
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Receive the Connection: Notice what happens when you share. Maybe someone says "me too." Maybe they offer a solution. Maybe they just listen. Let yourself feel the connection. That's the future shaping itself.
Key Takeaways:
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Endometriosis Awareness Month 2026's theme is "Your Story Shaping Our Future" .
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The stories we tell—even the "unsexy" ones—have power.
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Emma's story about using Après for pessary residue changed how I think about my business and who I serve.
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Sharing the messy, practical parts of chronic illness validates others and helps them find solutions.
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When we only share the polished parts of our lives, we create a false standard of "doing it right."
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Your experience—even the parts that feel too small or too embarrassing—is worth sharing.
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Sharing doesn't have to be public. One conversation with one person can change everything.
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The future of endometriosis care isn't just about better treatments; it's about better experience of those treatments.
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By sharing your story, you help shape that future.
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You are not alone. And your voice matters.
Do you have a story about your endometriosis journey? The messy parts, the practical parts, the parts you've never told anyone? We'd love to hear it. Share with us (anonymously if you prefer) and help shape the future of women's health. And if you're looking for a tool to make your treatment mornings easier, discover how Après can help.
