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Conversations with Friends viewers praise show for endometriosis storyline

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

If, like us, you're thoroughly obsessed with the BBC's adaption of Conversations with Friends – based on the novel by romance icon, Sally Rooney – then you'll be familiar with the show's powerful portrayal of endometriosis, something which it has received praise for from viewers tuning in at home. In the series, we meet Frances (played by Alison Oliver) who, after suffering debilitating period pain and losing a lot of blood, is diagnosed with endometriosis.

For those not familiar with endometriosis, the condition causes tissue similar to the lining of the womb to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes with symptoms that include heavy periods and period pains that impact day-to-day life. The condition, which affects roughly 2 million women in the UK (possibly more, as so many people go undiagnosed), is widely misunderstood – but, thanks to celebrities like Molly-Mae Hague and the mainstream media turning a spotlight on endometriosis, that could change.

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

"Conversations with Friends is the first time I’ve ever seen something similar to my own experience with endometriosis reflected in popular media," tweeted one viewer, welcoming the BBC series' portrayal of the condition. "Just finished watching Conversations with Friends and the endometriosis storyline has destroyed me, I've never seen my exact experience shown so accurately!" wrote someone else.

"Watching #ConversationswithFriends in the middle of the night during an endometriosis flare up is nothing short of ironic. Interesting to see how they portrayed it," a third fan of the show tweeted. "Is #ConversationswithFriends going to be the first time endometriosis is displayed in mainstream media? That’s pretty cool if so," another viewer added to the topic, as someone else tweeted: "I really hope they portray Frances’ endometriosis journey accurately in #ConversationswithFriends - because it’s a condition that most people associate with ‘just period pain’ the overall impact of an endo diagnosis is hugely underestimated. For young people it can be life changing."

"Can confirm that I too have had physically debilitating period pain to the point of lying on the ground, curled up and dependent on a heating pad and pain meds. Frances, my endo sister, I feel ya!" another viewer wrote in admiration of the show's plot. "Binge watching #ConversationswithFriends and seeing Frances battle with the endo diagnosis and being told she may be infertile is so relatable. That was a tough day for me too. Still is," someone else said in an emotional tweet.

Despite the overwhelmingly positive praise the show received, some viewers did note that Frances' diagnosis comes much sooner than perhaps it would in real life, with many sufferers going years without one. "The least realistic thing in Sally Rooney's Conversations with Friends was how quickly Frances seemed to get her endometriosis diagnosis," tweeted one person.

Nevertheless, we still think it's great that more awareness is being raised about the condition, which will certainly help those knowingly or unknowingly struggling with endometriosis.

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