It was Thanksgiving week in the USA- a time to take a moment to focus our attention on what we are grateful to have. While there is much to be learned about endometriosis and the best treatment, I am grateful
As we approach a season of many different holidays, our thoughts often turn to food. There is usually food at most any holiday gathering- which can be both a pleasure and a grief for those dealing with a chronic illness.
We frequently get questions about information that is assumed to be true in most cases of endometriosis. When evaluating information about endometriosis, it is good to keep in mind that long accepted beliefs may not necessarily be absolute. Here are
We often get questions about how long will it take to recover from surgery and how long does it take to know if it was successful. The aggravating answer is….it depends. There are many different things that play a part
Adolescents can be affected by endometriosis. In fact, according to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: “Endometriosis is the leading cause of secondary dysmenorrhea in adolescents. Endometriosis should be considered in patients with persistent, clinically significant dysmenorrhea despite treatment with
We hear more and more about blood tests using DNA, RNA, and microRNA being researched as a possible way to help diagnose endometriosis. While more studies are needed, these tests do show some promise (Zafari et al., 2021). It would
Endometriosis is an inflammatory disorder, and inflammation can lead to increased pain, fatigue, and general feelings of unwellness (Nothnick & Alali, 2016). It has been shown that “endometriotic lesion removal significantly alters the inflammatory profile both locally and systemically in
A hysterectomy is not a cure for endometriosis; however, many people with endometriosis also experience problems with their uterus or ovaries (such as adenomyosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, and other conditions that can contribute to chronic pelvic pain) that could benefit
We see time and again the impact the symptoms of endometriosis have on daily life. Regarding work and productivity, researchers found that people with endometriosis reported “17.1% of work time missed, 41.8% impaired work ability, 46.5% overall work impairment, and
Endometriosis often requires specialized care. Just as there are specialists such as endocrinologists, oncologists, rheumatologists, cardiovascular surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and so on, there are specialists for endometriosis. Even within those specialties, there are subspecialties for even more specific disease processes.
We are excited and grateful to announce that the website is being translated into French! This is due to the generous donation of time and effort from Chloé Moulin. She has shared her story of why this work is important
When talking about endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, it is important to remember that often endometriosis is not the only pelvic pain generator. Another possible contributor to chronic pelvic pain is pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). PCS is like having varicose
Our motto “reaching out to teach another” can also include our providers. Just as someone might see a specialist for neurological or endocrine disorders, endometriosis often requires specialized care (even for therapies such as physical therapy). And just as with
It’s an exciting title: “Genetic cause of endometriosis discovered, pointing to new drug therapy” (Haridy, 2021). But it is misleading. When you look further, it reveals it is referencing a study (Tapmeier et al., 2020) that identified “a novel genetic
Endometriosis can have a cascade effect on the muscles, fascia, and nerves of the pelvis. Myofascial pain is involved in up to 94% of chronic pelvic pain and can occur “independently or in conjunction with disorders such as vaginismus, dysmenorrhea,
A little spoken of symptom of endometriosis is pain with sex. In medical terms, it is called dyspareunia- meaning pelvic pain that occurs before, during, or after intercourse (although similar pain can also be felt with an exam or insertion
Endometriosis can cause multiple issues for our bodies and can create the need for a multidisciplinary care team to address chronic pelvic pain. Physical therapy is one example of part of a multidisciplinary treatment plan for endometriosis symptoms. Guest writer
By Deanna Denman, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Clinical Health Psychologist Find the right therapist can be just as difficult as finding an endometriosis specialist. There are many different types of therapists providing many different types of therapy out there, and “fit”
by Deanna Denman, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Clinical Health Psychologist Endometriosis is intimately linked to mental health. While depression and anxiety together impact 10-20% of the general population, metanalyses (studies looking at the results of other studies to find trends) show
A healthy eating pattern can be therapeutic and good for our health overall, but it can be difficult to decide on what is best for our bodies. The process can involve a long time spent in trial and error to
Endometriosis can have a profound effect on a person’s ability to work, care for their home, care for their family, and even care for themselves- and this impacts their loved ones as well (Missmer et al., 2021). Endometriosis can have
Sleep quality in individuals with endometriosis is significantly worse than those without it (Nunes et al., 2015). It seems like a no-brainer that pain and other symptoms from endometriosis can affect sleep quality. In fact, pain from endometriosis is known
The bloating, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, pain with bowel movements, nausea…could this be endometriosis? Yes, it could. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) like symptoms are common with endometriosis- up to 85% of endometriosis patients have gastrointestinal/bowel symptoms (Aragon & Lessey, 2017; Ek et
Endometriosis is an inflammatory disorder, and this inflammation can lead to increased pain, fatigue, and general feelings of unwellness. Mast cells are immune system cells that can stimulate inflammation (Graziottin, Skaper, & Fusco, 2014). Mast cells hold proinflammatory substances (such as
You can find a diverse gathering of information about endometriosis on our website. We have some information you may not have thought to look for or were unsure of where it might located. Here’s a glimpse at a few of
Published on October 31, 2015 by Nancy Petersen How do I know if a surgery planned will be helpful? You have to spend time learning about modern concepts. You must know these basics: Endo is multicolored. Nine other areas of
Pain with endometriosis is complex and its treatment might include a variety of therapies. Removing the original source of pain (endometriosis lesions) as early as possible is important because over time pain becomes more complex. As Chiantera et al. (2017)
Nancy Petersen; Published on December 19, 2019 Things that make me shake my head and heard every day in Nancy’s Nook, now approaching 96,000 international members, growing between 800-1100 a week having failed all gynecology has to offer, including most
May is mental health awareness month and a good time to shine a light on the affects that endometriosis has on our mental health. A significant number of people worldwide suffer from a mental health disorder. While mental health covers
what are the symptoms of endometriosis after menopause? Endometriosis does not “die off” or go away with a hysterectomy or menopause. Some people do find some relief from their symptoms, but endometriosis can still persist. Endometriosis often has several related