It’s not “all in your head.”

What Is Endometriosis?

“Endometriosis is clinically defined as ‘a systemic, inflammatory disease characterized at surgery by the presence of endometrium-like tissue found outside the uterus, usually with an associated inflammatory process. It is a spectrum disease with a variety of subtypes and clinical presentations, and pain, inflammation, infertility, development of endometriomas (“chocolate cysts”), fibrosis, formation of adhesions (fibrous bands of dense tissue), GI and other organ dysfunction, and much more are common with endometriosis.’”

— CEC

What Are Some Symptoms of Endometriosis?

  • Severe menstrual pain

  • Abdominopelvic pain

  • Bowel or urinary disorders/pain/dysfunction (including retention)

  • Other unexplained GI issues

  • Painful intercourse, penetration, or other sexual activity such as pain with orgasms

  • Pain with tampon insertion

  • Infertility or pregnancy loss (e.g, ectopic pregnancies)

  • Cyclical migraines or fatigue

  • Unexplained hemoptysis

  • Leg and lower back pain

  • Often occurs with adenomyosis, therefore those with both are likely to have severe or prolonged bleeding and clotting

  • Comorbid pain syndromes and/or mood conditions

How Should Endometriosis Be Treated?

Generally speaking, no two cases of endo are the same, therefore treatment will likely vary for many people. The point that I would like to stress here though is that excision surgery is the gold standard. Hormone therapy, ablation, nor hysterectomy have the effective results that excision surgery (with a specialist) provides.

Disclaimer: I am not a clinician providing medical advice with the intent to diagnose nor treat. This is a purely educational resource. Anyone that suspects they may have endometriosis is advised to follow up with a specialist (see below).

Local Excision Specialists

Pelvic Floor Occupational or Physical Therapy

Commonly prescribed pre- or post-op, or even in absence of surgery to help manage common co-morbidities of endometriosis, such as adhesions, painful intercourse, or other symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. Some evidence suggests PT can even help with mechanical infertility!

How a Pelvic Floor Therapist May Treat Your Symptoms:

  • Myofascial Release Work

  • Visceral Massage

  • TENS

  • Dry Needling

  • Heat

  • Psychological Support: Mindfulness & Pain Neuroscience

Local Pelvic Floor Therapists

Endometriosis is not just “a bad period,” nor a “condition of menstruation,” and it is especially not normal.

It is a whole-body disease and these symptoms are not normal.

Educating Yourself

  • Center For Endometriosis Care

    The CEC is a great resource for education and specialty, with their multidisciplinary surgical team treating among the highest number of complex, extrapelvic and thoracic/diaphragmatic endometriosis cases annually.

    learn more

  • Endometriosis Foundation of America

    “The Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound) strives to increase disease recognition, provide advocacy, facilitate expert surgical training, and fund landmark endometriosis research.”

    learn more

  • Nancy's Nook

    This Facebook group’s purpose is to educate patients, practitioners, and their loved ones about endometriosis with evidence based information and resources. Members include endometriosis patients as well as physicians, other healthcare practitioners, partners, parents, and friends. This is an educational resource, not a support group (See Endometropolis Lite for that).

    learn more

  • I am 1 in 10

  • I am one of the 30-50% of infertile women diagnosed with endometriosis

  • It took the average 7-10 years, plus self-advocacy for me to receive a proper diagnosis

  • I hear you.