Cynthia Ponce
Cynthia Ponce began experiencing hormonal disruptions at just 15 years old. Over the years that followed, she was repeatedly dismissed or told that her pain was simply a normal part of the menstrual cycle. It took persistent self-advocacy and years of appointments before she finally received an endometriosis diagnosis.
In the months following a photoshoot with Kiseau in San Francisco, Cynthia developed a new ovarian cyst that required emergency surgery, impacting one ovary, a fallopian tube, and her appendix. She navigated it all with a warmth and strength that stopped everyone around her in their tracks. She shares her story here so that no woman going through the same thing has to feel alone.
This volume is dedicated to every woman navigating endometriosis, PCOS, infertility, a miscarriage, a hormonal imbalance, and autoimmunity. Your perseverance is a testament to the strength of a woman, and that cannot go unseen.
Endometriosis affects roughly 1 in 10 women worldwide, nearly 190 million people, and yet it remains one of the most under-diagnosed, under-researched, and under-believed conditions in women's healthcare. It often takes 7 to 10 years for women to even receive a diagnosis.
We met Cynthia on Instagram in November 2025. She had responded to a casting call for a photoshoot in San Francisco with photographer Maria Calderon, a woman who had connected with Kiseau a month earlier, offering to collaborate because she genuinely believed in the mission. During casting, we learned about Cynthia's journey. And when we wanted to give her story the space it deserved, we discovered something that felt like more than coincidence: Maria herself had been diagnosed with endometriosis years earlier.
Two women. The same diagnosis. Years apart. In the same room.
In Volume 4 of The Body Talks Edit, Cynthia opens up about symptoms that started at 15, years of being told her pain was normal, emergency surgery, and the slow, ongoing work of learning to trust a body she once felt was working against her.
"Your body is not the enemy. It is doing the best it can with what it has been given. Be gentle with it."
Cynthia Ponce
Q. Can you share a bit about your journey with endometriosis: when did you first start experiencing symptoms, and how long did it take to get a diagnosis?
My journey with hormonal imbalances started around 15 years old. I remember starting to deal with skin issues, mood swings, and irregular periods pretty early on but I was always told that some women just have it harder than others when it comes to their cycle. It wasn't until my early 20s that I was officially diagnosed with endometriosis after years of painful periods and ongoing hormonal issues.
I was referred to a specialist who finally took my pain seriously, and after a laparoscopy, the diagnosis was confirmed. It was a relief to finally have an answer, but also overwhelming to realize that I had been dealing with this for so long without proper support or treatment.
Q. You recently went through emergency surgery after our shoot together. Can you tell us what happened and how you're doing now?
Yes, a few months after our shoot, I started having intense pain on my right side. I had a feeling it was another cyst because I had dealt with them before, but this time it was different. I ended up in the ER and they found a large cyst that had caused some damage. I had emergency surgery and they had to remove part of my right ovary, my right fallopian tube was impacted, and they also removed my appendix as a precaution.
Recovery was really hard, both physically and emotionally. Losing part of my reproductive organs was something I hadn't mentally prepared for. But I am doing better now. I am still processing what this means for my future and my fertility, but I am trying to take it one day at a time and listen to what my body needs.
Q. What role has natural and non-toxic living played in managing your symptoms?
It has made a difference, even if it isn't a cure. I started paying more attention to what I put in and on my body after my diagnosis. I switched to cleaner products, started eating more whole foods, and became more conscious of the fabrics I was wearing. Endocrine disruptors are a real concern for people with conditions like endometriosis because our hormonal system is already under stress.
Switching to natural fiber underwear and clothing was part of that shift. I noticed that my skin felt less irritated and I felt more comfortable in my body overall. It's a small change but when you're managing a chronic condition, every small reduction in inflammatory load matters.
Q. What would you want other women navigating endometriosis or chronic hormonal conditions to know?
You are not being dramatic. You are not overreacting. If a doctor dismisses you, find another one. Keep records of your symptoms. Ask for a referral to a specialist. Advocate for yourself even when it is exhausting, because you are worth the fight.
And please be gentle with yourself. This disease takes so much: your energy, your plans, sometimes your sense of identity. Your body is not the enemy. It is doing the best it can with what it has been given. Be gentle with it.
Q. How has this journey changed your relationship with your body?
It forced me into a relationship with my body I wasn't ready for. I used to be really disconnected from it: ignoring pain, pushing through, not wanting to make a fuss. Now I listen. I have to. My body demands it.
Honestly, I think that has been a gift inside a very difficult experience. I am more present in my body than I have ever been. I notice what drains me and what restores me. I choose things, including what I wear and what I eat, with more intentionality. That didn't come easy, but it came.
What Cynthia's Story Asks of All of Us
The average woman waits 7 to 10 years for an endometriosis diagnosis. Let that land for a moment. Years of pain, dismissed. Years of advocacy, required just to be believed.
Cynthia's story is not an outlier. It is a pattern. And the response to a pattern is not individual resilience alone; it is community that refuses to let women go through this feeling unseen.
What we can do, as individuals, is start with the small acts of alignment that Cynthia describes. Listening to the body. Reducing the load. Choosing what we put in, on, and around us with intention. None of it replaces medical care. But all of it sends the same message: this body deserves to be cared for.
You deserve to be cared for.
Follow Cynthia & Maria
Follow Cynthia's ongoing journey with endometriosis, healing, and real talk on Instagram. And explore the work of Maria Calderon, photographer, endometriosis advocate, and the woman behind the lens at Sutro Baths.
Common Questions About Endometriosis
How long does it take to get diagnosed with endometriosis?
On average, it takes 7 to 10 years for women to receive an endometriosis diagnosis. Many begin experiencing symptoms in their teenage years but are repeatedly told their pain is a normal part of menstruation. This delay is largely due to a lack of awareness and the normalization of women's pain in medical settings.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
Symptoms vary widely but commonly include painful periods, chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, heavy bleeding, bloating, fatigue, and in some cases, difficulty conceiving. Many women are initially told these symptoms are normal, which significantly delays diagnosis and treatment.
Can endometriosis be linked to environmental factors?
Research is ongoing, but endocrine-disrupting chemicals (including those found in synthetic fabrics, plastics, and everyday products) are an active area of study in relation to endometriosis and other hormonal conditions. Reducing exposure to known EDCs is one approach many women with endo incorporate into their care.
How do you advocate for yourself when doctors dismiss your pain?
Track your symptoms in detail and bring written records to every appointment. Don't accept "this is normal" as a final answer; seek second and third opinions. Ask specifically about endometriosis and request a referral to a gynaecologist or endometriosis specialist. You deserve to be heard, believed, and properly cared for.