Endometriosis is a condition that is often very painful for women who experience it.  For a woman suffering, tissue similar to what normally lines the uterus, known as the endometrium, grows outside of the uterus.  This tissue acts the same as endometrial tissue and thickens, breaks down, and bleeds with each menstrual cycle but because it has no way to exit the body, it gets trapped.  As a result, these growths can cause cysts, scar tissue, and adhesions.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month.

The most common symptoms are:

• Pain during periods
• Pain during intercourse
• Pain during bowel movements or urination
• Excessive bleeding
• Infertility

Treatments include:

• Pain medicines
• Hormone therapy
• Surgical options
• For infertility, assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures

Online Resources:

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

American Society of Reproductive Medicine

Endometriosis Association

Endometriosis Foundation

Endometriosis.org

Endometriosis Research Center

SpeakEndo.com

Womenshealth.gov

Movies and Documentaries:

All About NINA (Amazon)

Endo What?

The Painful Truth

A Thousand Needles

End-O

The Resilience of Women in Pain

Podcasts:

In Sixteen Years of Endometriosis

The Cycle

Not Defined by Endo

Peace with Endo

Books:

Beating Endo (Amazon; Bookshop)

The Endometriosis Health and Diet Program (Amazon; Bookshop)

Know Your Endo (Amazon; Bookshop)

The Endo Patient’s Survival Guide (Amazon; Bookshop)

Celebrities with Endometriosis:

Amy Schumer

Bindi Irwin

Halsey

Lena Dunham

Mandy Moore

Molly Qerim

Padma Lakshmi

Tia Mowry