Libby Hopton

Libby lives in the Netherlands where she is currently completing a research master in clinical and cognitive neuroscience. She grew up in England and read experimental psychology, philosophy, and physiology at Oxford, before moving to the Netherlands to continue her studies.

Endometriosis fascinates her because it is a disease shrouded by misconception, confusion, controversy, and debate from an array of stake holders with competing agendas. As a patient, the quest for optimal treatment felt akin to navigating a minefield of inadequate surgery, ineffective medical therapy, and outright ignorance at the hands of the medical community. The efficacy of the treatment a patient receives and how well she ultimately fares will vary widely depending on the physician or centre she happens to go to. One thing is clear, it's time to take a fresh look at a disease that has been burdened by an ongoing, cult-like adherence to an ideology that serves to hinder progress and harm patients.

Besides co-developing Endopaedia, Libby hosts an on-line Facebook group called EndoMetropolis (a fun and educational hang-out for patients, researchers, and physicians), and has been involved in the development of the upcoming ESHRE guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, a resource that aims to outline 'best practice' for the management of this disease in Europe. She is currently working on the patient version of the guidelines.