Woman Discovers Brain Tumour Through At-Home Fertility Test at Work Party
A young woman has revealed how she discovered she had a brain tumour after taking an at-home fertility test, with the shocking diagnosis coming through during a work party. Livia McNee, a 27-year-old civil servant from London, said the symptoms that led to her brain tumour diagnosis were "weird" and not the typical indicators medical professionals typically look for.
Overlapping Symptoms Masked Serious Condition
Livia had been experiencing irregular periods but, because she already had diagnoses of endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), she didn't initially suspect anything more serious. Instead, she became curious about her fertility and decided to take an at-home blood test through Hertility Health, a company specialising in female healthcare.
"I didn't have wild headaches, or loss of vision, which a lot of people get," Livia explained. "It was simply me tracking my periods and thinking, 'Something isn't right.' This symptom is also a symptom of many other conditions, including two others that I have, endometriosis and PCOS."
The test examined all hormones related to her menstrual cycle, and several results came back abnormal: her egg reserve, testosterone, and prolactin levels were all outside normal ranges. After ordering a repeat test and consulting with Hertility Health, she was advised to notify her GP.
Shocking Diagnosis During Work Celebration
Following multiple blood tests through her GP, Livia eventually underwent an MRI scan in May 2025. In June, doctors delivered the diagnosis: she had a pituitary tumour, an abnormal growth in the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain.
"Honestly, I can't remember how I felt when I found out," Livia recalled. "I found out while at a work party, which is not the best place to do it, and it was over the phone. I cried a lot, and took some time to process. For me, the main thing wasn't that I had a brain tumour, which seems odd. But, it was that I had another medical issue."
Livia also lives with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which causes extreme dizziness when standing up, adding to her existing health challenges.
Fertility Impact and Treatment Challenges
The tumour affects Livia's prolactin levels, which are responsible for lactation and breast development, and can cause symptoms like irregular periods and infertility. "While my tumour is here, and causing havoc, I can't get pregnant," she said. "I'm nowhere near ready for kids but knowing that is really affecting me and that isn't spoken about enough."
Her tumour is being treated with medication called cabergoline, which often makes her very sick. "It's not a nice medication to take," Livia explained. "The main side-effects are feeling nauseous and, boy oh boy, did I feel that. I constantly have to have ginger shots next to me at all times. It's been a ride and a half."
Lifestyle Adjustments and Recent Progress
The diagnosis has forced Livia to make significant lifestyle changes. "They've been so supportive but I can tell my parents want to take all the pain away, but they can't," she said of her family. "It's made me rethink my lifestyle, not that I drank loads and partied, but more about reducing my stress which has helped somewhat but it's meant I miss out on a lot."
One major adjustment has been giving up high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts that she previously enjoyed, as her body can no longer tolerate them. Her partner has been "an absolute rock" through the challenging period.
Recently, Livia underwent a repeat MRI and received positive news: her tumour had shrunk, allowing her to slightly reduce her medication. However, she had to take a break from the medication after developing swollen breasts, a symptom usually associated with the tumour before treatment. Being off the medication caused her cycle to become irregular again, so she has resumed taking it.
Encouraging Others to Seek Medical Attention
Livia encourages anyone dealing with similar symptoms to get checked by medical professionals. "Hertility offers an affordable way of checking your hormones if your GP won't so I highly recommend it," she said. "Unfortunately, as I said, my symptoms are also symptoms of many other conditions, so it's very hard to tell."
Her story highlights how overlapping symptoms from multiple conditions can mask serious health issues, and how at-home testing can sometimes reveal unexpected diagnoses that require immediate medical attention.
