Endo Awareness Month!
As someone who has endometriosis and works with many clients who manage an invisible illness, I’m happy to provide some facts about endometriosis!
Endometriosis is a reproductive health condition where tissue similar to the kind that lines the inside of your uterus is found outside of your uterus, where it doesn’t belong. It affects more than 11% of women between 15 and 44 years old, as well as trans and non-binary people with uteruses. That’s a little more than one out of every 10 people.
Endometriosis has four stages: Stage I (Minimal), Stage II (Mild), Stage III (Moderate), and Stage IV (Severe). It’s important to note that pain and difficulty with the management of endometriosis do not correlate with the stage. Some people with minimal or mild endo have great pain, etc. Click here for more information about the stages of endometriosis.
Endometriosis can cause:
extremely painful periods
extremely heavy bleeding during periods
pain in your lower belly and lower back (pelvic pain)
pain or difficulty while peeing or pooping;
nausea
pain during or after sex
difficulty getting pregnant
source: endographics.com
Many women do not get a diagnosis for 7-10 years and, consequently, see many doctors before they can get the help they need. Some women have no symptoms and find out they have endo when they are trying to conceive.
I understand how hard an invisible illness can be. How hard chronic symptoms can be. How different your life might be than how you envisioned it. I can support you, help you find coping skills that work for you, and help you process feelings around this illness that is more than a “bad period.”
