Freddie’s Story

"I would often be stuck in bed for the first couple of days with just unbelievably painful periods."

Freddie’s struggle with severe menstrual pain began at 18, worsening each month until it disrupted her daily life. As a university student juggling a physiotherapy degree, work, and caring for her horse, her period would leave her incapacitated. "I’d miss lectures, forget conversations from the pain, and basically write off two days every cycle," she recalls.

The Pill: A Temporary Mask with Heavy Costs
Desperate for relief, Freddie tried Rigevidon, a common birth control pill, but the side effects were brutal. "I had horrific mood swings—it didn’t fix the pain, just hid it," she says. After stumbling upon a video of another woman’s similar experience, Freddie connected the dots: her anxiety and depression lifted almost immediately after quitting the pill. Yet her period pain remained. Doctors offered little help: "I was either told to take painkillers or go back on the pill. One friend was even prescribed antidepressants."

Seeking a Holistic Solution
Determined to avoid medication, Freddie turned to Rose for a natural approach. "I wanted to address the root cause, not just cover symptoms," she explains. Though sceptical at first ("I’d have been happy with just 20% improvement"), the focus on gradual, sustainable changes—like diet tweaks and cycle tracking—surprised her. "It wasn’t about scrapping my entire lifestyle. Small swaps, like chicken instead of pork or overnight oats for cereal, made it manageable."