March is Endometriosis awareness month, but what is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis (“endo”) is a disease affecting an estimated 11% of women across the world (although it’s possible the numbers are actually higher).
Endometriosis is characterized by tissue similar to that which grows in the uterus (endometrial tissue) growing outside of the uterus. These patches of endometrial-like tissue are called endometrial lesions and are most often found near the uterus, for example on the ovaries and fallopian tubes. However, they can also be found in other places as well, including the intestines, bowel, bladder, ligaments, and even other organs. The adhesions are also known to cause pain for many people, though some experience silent endometriosis in which they don’t exhibit many, if any, symptoms.
It can take many, many years to get a diagnosis, so being able to advocate for your own fertility health is essential. Use our guide to understanding endometriosis & being diagnosed to help guide the types of questions to ask your provider and a list of the health data you can collect to get the most appropriate testing and care needed.
One of the best educational resources for endometriosis is called Nancy’s Nook Endometriosis Education. You can join the Facebook group, or check out the website https://nancysnookendo.com/. The founder, Nancy Peterson, lived with severe endometriosis for many, many years. She is a nurse, and has been an endometriosis educator and advocate for a long time. She’s spent many years creating worldwide lists of true endometriosis specialists and well-performed studies, which are available on the above-linked website and group.
The best way to improve and help to manage your symptoms of endometriosis is to focus on:
- reducing inflammation,
- supporting the body’s natural detoxification of estrogen,
- and managing stress.
For top tips for improving symptoms read our article: https://www.tempdrop.com/blogs/blog/5-ways-to-support-endometriosis-with-nutrition
