lines the uterus grows into the muscle wall. Densem didn't hesitate to try hormone therapy.

"I was just desperate to have the bleeding stop and to not have to keep having iron and blood tests and all sorts."

When her treatment was reviewed in 2017, Densem expressed a desire to have a hysterectomy, but was told it was not appropriate. She was still in pain, and was referred to Burwood Hospital's pain clinic.

This year, again experiencing symptoms, Densem was referred for a gynaecology outpatient assessment twice. The first referral took place after she was admitted to hospital experiencing pain and nausea, which Densem says doctors attributed to a suspected burst cyst. It was declined. A GP at her practice tried again. This was also declined.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF When Keryn Densem managedto see a private gynaecologist in December, he said there was little point referring her to Christchurch Women's Hospital.

Densem says she had wanted to talk to an expert about the hormone therapy drugs, and what options she had. They had killed her libido, she says, making it hard to have a relationship. She was also still experiencing pain, which the private specialist later told her could be a result of undiagnosed endometriosis.

In reply to a letter from Densem, the clinical director of gynaecology at the CDHB said the service was only able to see a limited number of patients, mainly those referred with concerns regarding cancer risk and other acute events. A gynaecologist could provide advice to the GP Densem was seeing, the letter said.

After the rejections, Densem