'I found out I couldn't have children in July because of how extensive things are'

“I have endometriosis and adenomyosis. I’ve the double whammy,” Ciara said after the protest.

“I’m going over to Greece for surgery in April, and I’m having to fund that myself. I had to try and find the money to go over.” 

She added: “For surgery, I was quoted at about €11,500. That’s because I’m having excision surgery for the endometriosis and a hysterectomy for the adenomyosis.”

Ciara said the last few months have been “very emotional and difficult”.

“I found out I couldn’t have children in July because of how extensive things are.”

A new scheme was launched in October offering upfront payments for endometriosis surgery abroad, but some commonly used European clinics are not on the list, limiting the options for patients here.

The Greek clinic is not listed but it is approved under the general HSE and EU Cross Border Directive.

Ms Whelan knows women who had endometriosis care in the Greek clinic, but patients have to pay upfront and then get reimbursed.

In addition, the endometriosis scheme says only consultants can sign on off referrals, not GPs.

“I’m also not under a consultant at the moment in Ireland,” she said. 

“My GP is amazing and has referred me over. I cannot fault him at all, he’s been amazing from the get-go."

GP referrals are accepted for the EU option, but not under the new scheme launched last October.

“It’s tough,” Ciara said. 

“But I’m trying to reframe it and be positive that I’m in a position where I can tell my story and share that push for better care for other women.

“So other women are not in a position where, at 33, they're having a hysterectomy because no-one would listen to them for years.” 

In response, health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: “We’ve done a lot in the last few months since we launched the new [Endometriosis] Framework, which marked a clear commitment to improving care for every woman affected, but we have so much more to do.” 

She added: “I’m grateful to all those patients and advocates who continue to engage with me and I am grateful to the clinical community who have taken this step with us to achieve better care for women across the country."

She said 142 women had extra surgeries last year under special funding, well above the target of 100. 

Ms Carroll MacNeill said a new colorectal surgeon has been hired for Cork University Maternity Hospital. 

Doctors have already begun attending training courses across Europe, including long-term Fellowship training in Germany.

Ms Carroll MacNeill met on Wednesday with Senator Maria McCormack to hear stories from endometriosis patients shared at Sinn Féin's public meetings.