Latest news with #ValentinaMilanova
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'Doctors thought I was pregnant – then they found teeth and hair inside me'
Doctors discovered a massive ovarian cyst "filled with hair and teeth" inside a woman who suffered agonising periods for more than 20 years. Valentina Milanova was left feeling like she "was dying" or suffering from a "mysterious disease" when she experienced her first period aged nine. The now 30-year-old, who was raised in Bulgaria, had no education about menstruation and was given the contraceptive pill aged 11, which offered some early relief. Doctors were left mystified when her condition returned years later - forcing her to take a year off school when she was just 14 - but eventually diagnosed her with polycystic ovary syndrome, finding one of the cysts developing inside her was "filled with hair and teeth". Full list of symptoms 34 million women are being told 'are not normal' Valentina, the founder and CEO of sustainable period and vaginal care firm Daye, said doctors found the 8cm cyst after administering an intravaginal scan. They had previously tested her for a range of conditions, including E. coli and kidney disease. Experiencing her period three years before most girls do, she said she was "very surprised", adding: "I didn't know what was happening to my body, because no one had had a conversation with me yet about what to expect from menstruation." She added: "I thought I had some kind of a disease, or maybe I was dying." She was also left feeling ashamed, and kept her condition a secret from her parents. "I didn't want to worry anyone and I also didn't realise that it was happening on a cyclical, monthly basis." At one point, doctors even suggested she might be experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, despite Valentina's repeated assurances that she was not sexually active. It wasn't until after she was tested for pregnancy that doctors believed her. She found it "very misogynistic" that it was assumed she may have been lying about sexual activity and "should just trust the medical perspective". Valentina was diagnosed with PCOS, a condition the NHS states causes irregular periods, an excess of "male" hormones named androgens, and polycystic ovaries. She has suffered from cysts, severe pain, bloating, and heavy menstrual bleeding ever since, and decided to establish Daye after moving to the UK in 2018. She said her experiences played a central role in her decision to found the firm, saying she hoped to help other women avoid "a gynaecological health horror story". She said: "My experiences helped me understand the bigger problem at hand. Most women experience a gynaecological health horror story in their lifetime. "I genuinely do not believe that we can have healthy societies or healthy economies if we continue to ignore this." Daye's innovations, which include revolutionary diagnostic tampons, have helped assist more than 100,000 people in the UK and are advancing research into women's health. Daye has developed diagnostic tampons for at-home STI and HPV screening, reaching more than 100,000 patients in the UK and advancing research on vaginal health. Selected for the three-year NHS Innovation Accelerator programme, Daye's tampons offer superior diagnostic accuracy compared with traditional self-collected swabs, directly supporting the NHS's goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.
NDTV
30-04-2025
- Health
- NDTV
UK Woman's 20-Year Battle With Painful Periods Traced To Cyst With Hair, Teeth
Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Valentina Milanova struggled for 20 years with severe period pain. Her pain was traced to an 8cm ovarian cyst and a diagnosis of PCOS. Her story emphasizes the need to address the gender health gap urgently. Valentina Milanova, a London-based entrepreneur originally from Bulgaria, has revealed her two-decade struggle with debilitating period pain that was eventually traced to an 8cm ovarian cyst, filled with hair and teeth. The shocking discovery led to a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition affecting millions worldwide, Manchester Evening News reported. Ms Milanova, now 30, got her first period at just nine but, without any education about menstruation, feared she was gravely ill. "I thought I was dying or had some mysterious disease," she recalled. By age 11, severe pain and heavy bleeding forced her parents to seek medical help. She was prescribed contraceptive pills - the standard treatment for period pain - but her symptoms only worsened. At 14, the pain became so intense she missed an entire year of school and made frequent trips to emergency rooms, often undergoing invasive tests. Doctors even suspected conditions like E. coli infections, kidney disease, and ectopic pregnancy, despite Ms Milanova insisting she was not sexually active. It wasn't until an intravaginal scan at 15 that doctors found the cyst, later confirmed as a dermoid cyst - a benign tumour that can contain hair, teeth, and skin tissue. Alongside the cyst, she was diagnosed with PCOS, a hormonal disorder that causes irregular periods, excess androgen levels, and ovarian cysts. While the diagnosis offered some relief, her struggle continued. She frequently battled severe pelvic pain, bloating, and heavy menstrual bleeding - symptoms she says are often dismissed or misdiagnosed in women worldwide. In 2018, determined to transform period care and address gaps in women's health, Ms Milanova founded Daye, a startup offering diagnostic tampons and pelvic pain management tools. The company's innovations have helped over 100,000 women in the UK and are contributing to research on vaginal health. "My story is just one of many showing how women's pain is deprioritised. We can't keep passing this challenge to the next generation - we need solutions now," she said. Ms Milanova now manages her pain through targeted therapies, including pelvic floor stretches and heat therapy, but says her battle highlights the urgent need to close the gender health gap.
Wales Online
30-04-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
'I had painful periods from 9 then doctors found hair and teeth inside me'
'I had painful periods from 9 then doctors found hair and teeth inside me' After years of pain, Valentina was prescribed the contraceptive pill at the age of 11 Valentina was prescribed the contraceptive pill at age 11 A woman who has had excruciating periods since the age of nine was finally diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome after doctors found an 8cm ovarian cyst 'filled with hair and teeth'. Valentina Milanova, 30, founder and chief executive of Daye, who lives in London but grew up in Bulgaria, had her first period at just nine years old, and with no education about menstruation, she initially believed she 'was dying' or had a 'mysterious disease'. After years of pain, she was prescribed the contraceptive pill at the age of 11, which provided temporary relief, but by 14 her symptoms had worsened and she missed a year of school. During that year, doctors tested her for conditions like E. coli and kidney disease, even suggesting she might have an ectopic pregnancy, despite Valentina repeatedly saying she was not sexually active. At 15, an intravaginal scan revealed an ovarian cyst, leading to a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). According to the NHS, PCOS causes irregular periods, excess 'male' hormones, and polycystic ovaries. Since then, Valentina has continued to experience cysts, along with severe pain, bloating and heavy menstrual bleeding. In 2018, after moving to the UK, she founded Daye to revolutionise period care and improve gynaecological health. Its innovations, such as diagnostic tampons, have already helped more than 100,000 people in the UK and are advancing research into women's health. Valentina told PA Real Life: 'My experiences helped me understand the bigger problem at hand. Most women experience a gynaecological health horror story in their lifetime. I genuinely do not believe that we can have healthy societies or healthy economies if we continue to ignore this.' The average age for a girl to have her first period is 12, according to the NHS, and at nine years old, Valentina had not been educated about menstruation. 'I was very surprised – I didn't know what was happening to my body, because no one had had a conversation with me yet about what to expect from menstruation,' she recalled. 'I thought I had some kind of a disease, or maybe I was dying. 'And I was also ashamed… so I kept it a secret from my parents. I didn't want to worry anyone and I also didn't realise that it was happening on a cyclical, monthly basis.' Valentina would 'bleed through' her underwear, as she did not know that menstrual products were 'a tool available' to her. Her periods were incredibly painful, and she 'couldn't find any relief' with painkillers. Staying in bed with a hot water bottle or taking a long hot bath were among the few things that helped. A couple of years later, she realised what she was experiencing was her period. However, the pain worsened over time to the point where she 'couldn't leave' her bed. At the age of 11, her parents took her to the doctor because of her heavy and painful menstrual cycles, and she was prescribed the contraceptive pill. 'It was, and still really is, the first line of treatment against period pain – there aren't many other tools for doctors to rely on,' Valentina explained. Initially, the pill seemed to help, but by the time she was around 14, the pain had returned, suggesting there might have been a more serious underlying issue. The pain caused her to miss a year of school, something she found 'very upsetting', and she frequently ended up in emergency care, needing fast-acting injectable pain relief. Over that year, she underwent 'very invasive' diagnostic procedures and was tested for E. coli and kidney disease. During attempts to diagnose her, it was even suggested she might be experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, despite Valentina repeatedly saying she was not sexually active. It was only after doctors tested her for pregnancy that they believed her. She said: 'I found it to be very misogynistic that I was told I was kind of lying about not being sexually active yet, and that I should just trust the medical perspective on this.' Eventually, at the age of 15, an intravaginal scan revealed a 'very big and painful' ovarian cyst, and on investigation, doctors discovered it was 'filled with hair and teeth'. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these cysts, known as dermoid cysts, are benign tumours containing tissue from your hair, skin, teeth or other body parts, and they form when fully developed tissue collects in an odd location like the ovaries. They were able to remove the 8cm cyst and she was diagnosed with PCOS – doctors confirmed that the cyst and PCOS were the cause of her intense period and pelvic pain. 'It was a relief to finally be diagnosed but the pain did not stop there – I can't believe it took as long as it did to find out what the problem was,' she added. Since then, Valentina has continued to experience ovarian cysts 'from time to time', but has not had to have any removed, along with extreme bloating in her lower abdomen, severe pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. As she grew older and moved to the UK at age 19 for university, Valentina realised that many other women also faced difficulties with gynaecological health. In 2018, she founded Daye to revolutionise period care, help close the gender health gap and provide gynaecological health screening. Daye has developed diagnostic tampons for at-home STI and HPV screening, reaching more than 100,000 patients in the UK and advancing research on vaginal health. Selected for the three-year NHS Innovation Accelerator programme, Daye's tampons offer superior diagnostic accuracy compared with traditional self-collected swabs, directly supporting the NHS's goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040. Over the years, Valentina has learned to manage her pain through Daye's period and pelvic pain clinic which involves a consultation with a nurse and a personalised plan. She has found that pelvic floor stretches, heat cycling and heat therapy help. Valentina said: 'My story is just one of the many examples of the gender health gap, the fact that female pain is deprioritised. Article continues below 'We simply can't afford to keep passing this challenge on to the next generation again and again, we need a generation that solves this for women today and women in the future as well.' For more information, visit:
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Covid-style test for womb cancer could soon be available on NHS
Women who are experiencing signs of womb cancer can soon be offered a less invasive test to rule out disease after it was given the green light for use in the UK. Traditionally, women with signs of womb cancer would need a transvaginal ultrasound scan or a hysteroscopy – where a tube with a camera in it is used to look inside the womb – to confirm or rule out womb cancer. But the new test, WID-easy, uses some of the same technology used in Covid PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests. It will involve a simple swab, which is sent off to a laboratory for analysis. Scientists then look for changes in the DNA that indicate whether womb cancer is present or not. If the test indicates that a woman has womb cancer, then the woman would need a biopsy to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. The new test, by University College London (UCL) spinout company Sola Diagnostics, has been approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for women over the age of 45 who have abnormal uterine bleeding. This means that it is immediately available to private clinics, and it is hoped that it will one day be made available for widespread use on the NHS. Commenting on the potential roll out of the new test Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of The Eve Appeal, says: "Currently in the UK, the tests to investigate abnormal bleeding and check for womb cancer can cause stress and discomfort. The usual test is a hysteroscopy, which many find painful and invasive. "A test which is less painful and more acceptable is to be welcomed by many. The WID-easy test could enable the many thousands of women who experience abnormal bleeding, and where cancer needs to be ruled out, to potentially avoid painful tests like hysteroscopies and have their minds put at rest sooner, saving them from unnecessary stress." The new test comes as a leading health expert warned women could be ignoring some potential key symptoms of womb cancer, due to a lack of awareness about what to look out for. Research has revealed that more than 22,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with gynaecological cancer every year – that's around 60 diagnoses every day and more than 400 women a week. One of the five gynaecological cancers is womb cancer (aka uterine or endometrial cancer). According to Cancer Research UK, around 9,800 women are diagnosed with womb cancer every year, making it the fourth most common cancer in UK women. Despite affecting so many, few women are aware of the potential symptoms, but having an awareness about womb cancer and other gynaecological cancers could mean the difference between an early diagnosis and leaving it too late. Yahoo UK previously spoke to Valentina Milanova, women's health expert and founder of gynae health company, Daye, to throw a light on some of the most common symptoms of womb cancer women should be looking out for. From painful sex, to unexpected vaginal bleeding and irregular menstruation, Milanova believes if more women could spot these signs, they might get diagnosed and receive treatment sooner. Womb cancer, also known as endometrial or uterine cancer, is cancer that affects the womb. According to the NHS, the womb (uterus) is where a baby grows during pregnancy. Most womb cancer usually starts in the lining of the womb (endometrium). Womb cancer typically presents with the following symptoms: Unusual vaginal bleeding, typically happening in between periods, after menopause, after sex or urination. Irregular menstruation, defined as unforeseen changes to the patient's menstrual cycle, heavier and longer periods, or breakthrough bleeding in between periods. Pelvic pain, which is often trivialised and ignored, but can be a symptom of gynaecological cancers. Painful sex is another symptom that women are taught to normalise, but can be a symptom of womb cancer. Pelvic pain and pressure are typically a symptom of endometrial cancer progressing. Larger uterus, which is seen in some cases where the endometrial cancer is causing an enlarged lower abdomen/pelvis. But Milanova says it is important to note that while these are common symptoms of womb cancer, they can also be caused by various other conditions that are not cancerous, such as hormonal imbalances, uterine fibroids, or polyps. "This is one reason why some patients may miss or dismiss these symptoms initially," she adds. According to Milanova there are several reasons why many women and assigned female at birth (AFAB) individuals may miss symptoms including: Menopause: Postmenopausal bleeding is often a red flag for womb cancer, but some patients may not realise they have reached menopause and therefore disregard the bleeding as a warning sign. Assuming it's normal: Due to the trivialisation of gynaecological pain, many women may assume that irregular periods or changes in menstrual bleeding are normal, which would lead to them not seeking medical attention. Mistaking endometrial cancer for something else: Symptoms like pelvic pain or weight loss can be attributed to various non-cancerous conditions, leading to a delay in seeking a cancer diagnosis. Fear: The fear of a cancer diagnosis or denial of potential health issues can lead some individuals to delay seeking medical help. While we don't know what causes most womb cancers, there are some factors that could increase your risk of developing it. Age: Womb cancer is most common in postmenopausal women, with the majority of cases diagnosed after age 50. Hormonal Factors: Excess oestrogen exposure, either due to obesity or certain medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can increase the risk. Obesity: Obesity is a significant risk factor for womb cancer because it can lead to increased oestrogen levels. Diabetes: Some studies suggest a link between type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of womb cancer. It's important for every patient, especially those in the high-risk categories, to be aware of the symptoms of womb cancer and seek medical support if they experience any concerning signs. Early detection and treatment can significantly improve the outcome for individuals with womb cancer. Read more about womb cancer: Symptoms of the 5 gynaecological cancers women should never ignore (Yahoo Life UK, 7-min read) Woman, 58, who thought she was 'in menopause' diagnosed with womb cancer (Birmingham Live, 3-min read) New womb cancer treatment to benefit hundreds of patients each year (PA, 3-min read
