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Melissa Barbieri is one of Australia’s most capped female footballers, making 86 appearances over 13 years for the Australian National Football team, The Matildas. She has played in 4 FIFA Women’s World Cups, and the 2004 Athens Olympics. Melissa was also the first female player to play professionally in the Men’s league here in Australia.  Retiring internationally in 2015, Melissa continues to play in the Liberty A-League for Melbourne City and works as the team’s Assistant Coach. The 46-year-old is proud to be the oldest player to have played in Australian Football, both male and female. 

More on Melissa’s story:

I was first diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 16. I was lucky that my mum was an avid advocate for me. She didn’t take no for an answer, or that normal was what I was going through. She pushed until someone listened and gave me a scan to find a cyst. Once I had my cyst removed at 16, they also found endometriosis.

This meant I was able to catch it early, but they did warn me that I may not be able to have children. When I became pregnant with Holly, it was a miracle. I then tried for a second child with my husband. This time around, it wasn’t as easy as once I had gone off the pill. Endometriosis attacked my uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.

After three or four rounds of IVF, we succumbed to the knowledge that our second child was no longer an option. Endometriosis attached itself to my bowel, which means surgery was very difficult, and I did have to go to a cancer surgeon to rectify it.  I was able to find a gynaecologist who helped me through my latest stage of endometriosis.  Before endometriosis medication was put on the PBS, it was costing $200 a month.

I’m now thankful that strides have been made for female reproductive health. Endometriosis Australia is an organisation promoting the advancement of minimising suffering for patients.