For Chelsea Leyland, co-founder of Looni, the road to understanding her hormonal health has been anything but linear. Before she became a globally recognized advocate — speaking at Cambridge University and the European Parliament about patient access and medical bias — she, too, was navigating years of unexplained pain, fertility challenges, and medical dismissal.

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Many know Chelsea from her years as a DJ, performing for brands like Chanel or opening for Duran Duran, but behind the scenes she was juggling epilepsy, debilitating endometriosis, and pregnancy losses that reshaped her entire worldview. Today, she channels that lived experience into advocacy, education, and community building, empowering women to better understand their bodies. Chelsea shares the realities of her diagnosis journey, how she finds strength on difficult days, and why she believes the future of women’s health is finally shifting toward empathy and whole-body care.



Chelsea's Q & A

How did you first realize that what you were experiencing wasn’t just “bad periods”?

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For years, I was told my pain was normal — that I just had “bad periods.” But over time, the intensity and level of pain became so extreme, along with fatigue and digestive issues, that I knew something wasn’t right. I started being hospitalized, and it became clear that this was more than just a painful period.

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Can you tell us about your journey to finally getting an endometriosis diagnosis?

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It was long and frustrating — more than 10 years of seeing multiple doctors before anyone took me seriously. The diagnosis finally came after a laparoscopic procedure, and even then it was a mix of relief and anger. It was validating to finally have a name for what I was experiencing, but it also opened my eyes to how many women are dismissed or misdiagnosed — and how rampant medical gaslighting is within this system.

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You’ve been open about experiencing pregnancy losses alongside your endometriosis. How did those experiences shape what you wanted to build with Looni?

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Losing pregnancies while navigating endometriosis made me painfully aware of how little education and support exist for women managing both fertility and hormonal health. As women, we’re often starting from a knowledge deficit when it comes to understanding our bodies. Looni was born out of that gap — we wanted to create a brand and community that fosters body literacy and helps women build a toolbox to support their hormonal health in a holistic, informed way.

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What gave you the courage to share your personal health struggles publicly?

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Honestly, it came from the deep loneliness and pain I felt on my own journey. Nothing prepares you for the trauma of an ectopic pregnancy — waking up to learn that your fallopian tube and the baby you were carrying are gone. I didn’t want others to feel as isolated as I did, especially in a world that often asks women to stay quiet about their pain. Sharing my story became a way to connect, to remind others they aren’t alone, and to help shift the conversation around women’s health toward honesty and compassion. Once I started opening up, I realized how many others were carrying the same pain in silence — and that gave me purpose.

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Managing endometriosis while building a company and leading advocacy work can’t be easy. What’s been the hardest part — and what keeps you going?

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The hardest part is balancing the unpredictability of my body with the constant demands of building a company. Some days, the pain or fatigue can be overwhelming, and I’ve had to learn to listen and slow down — which doesn’t come naturally when you’re in founder mode.

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What keeps me going is Looni’s incredible community — the hundreds of women who share their stories, support one another, and remind us why we started this in the first place. They’re what get me out of bed on the hardest days.

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You’ve opened space for conversations that can feel taboo — periods, fertility, chronic pain. How do you create an environment where people feel safe sharing?

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These conversations stem from lived experience, and the roots we’ve planted are ones of empathy and honesty. We normalize them by sharing our own stories and intentionally cultivating a judgment-free space. The goal is always to make people feel seen, validated, and empowered to take ownership of their health.

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When you look at traditional healthcare, what gaps did you see that made you think, “I need to build something different”?

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Traditional healthcare often treats symptoms in isolation — cramps, acne, fatigue — without considering the bigger picture of hormonal balance or root causes. Looni was created to fill that gap by offering education, tools, and products that support women holistically throughout their cycles.

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Endometriosis and fertility are deeply connected. What do you wish more people — including doctors — understood about this link?

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Pain is not “normal,” and any cycle imbalance deserves careful attention. Too many women are told to just “wait and see,” but early awareness and proactive care can make a huge difference in fertility preservation. Understanding the link between endometriosis and fertility empowers women to make informed decisions about family planning and treatment.

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For those dismissed by healthcare providers or told their pain is “normal,” what advice would you give?

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Trust yourself — our intuition is usually right. If something feels off, it probably is. Advocate for yourself: write down questions before appointments, bring an ally if you need support, keep detailed records, and don’t hesitate to seek second opinions. Do your due diligence on doctors through your community, and connect with others going through similar experiences. You are your own best advocate, and you deserve to be heard.

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What gives you hope about the future of endometriosis care and awareness?

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The conversation is finally shifting — there’s more research, more awareness, and more community support than ever before. Women are finding their voices, and with that, the future of care is becoming more informed, empathetic, and holistic. That gives me real hope.

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An example of this is a groundbreaking clinical study I’m currently helping recruit U.S.-based women for — including those who’ve experienced fertility challenges such as recurrent miscarriage, difficulty conceiving for 6+ months, or endometriosis.

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NextGen Jane has developed the ability to detect endometriosis and identify fertility-related markers from menstrual blood — helping reveal what’s really happening in the body. It’s an incredible step forward for women’s health research, and something that means a great deal to me personally.

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A Future Built on Community and Clarity

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Chelsea’s story is a reminder of how deeply women deserve care that listens, investigates, and supports them holistically.

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Her journey mirrors what so many in the Allara community have experienced: years of minimized symptoms, countless appointments without answers... and the transformative moment when they finally feel heard.

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By sharing her story, Chelsea continues to push forward a world where women aren’t dismissed — they’re believed, supported, and empowered to understand their bodies.