Shantana Hazel, of Bridgeport, has suffered the effects of endometriosis since she was 9 years old. "I was misdiagnosed and dismissed over and over again until I was 25 when I was finally given a proper diagnosis, " Hazel told News 12. "Now I want to help other women get the proper diagnosis and treatment. And that's the mission of my nonprofit, Sister Girl Foundation, which is today celebrating its 15th anniversary." Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar, but not identical, to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, all over the body. “We suffer from low back pain, painful bowels, painful intercourse," she said. Hazel said the potentially deadly condition is often misdiagnosed as "a painful period." "So many females suffer from not just the effects of endometriosis, but the pain of being ignored or dismissed," she said. "That's why, during Endometriosis Awareness Month, I'm promoting education and awareness so women can get the right diagnosis and treatment…Sadly there is no cure for endometriosis," she said. For more information, visit the Sister Girl Foundation website.