“Endometriosis affects an estimated 176 million women worldwide during their most reproductive and productive years.”
World Endometriosis Research Foundation
Around the world throughout the month of March women living with endometriosis, health-care providers who treat the condition, and endometriosis advocates, will be hosting events and using social media to raise awareness of a condition that affects 1 in 10 women. How many women do you know who live with endometriosis? How much do you actually know about the disease?
Having endometriosis is much, much more than having bad periods. It is a complex disease that defies easy definition and easy treatment, one about which much misinformation persists. As the Center for Endometriosis Care explains in an article on their website:
Despite being among the most common of diseases, persistent myths, misinformation and deficient health literacy about the disease continue to enshroud endometriosis – even by the most well-intentioned sources – often resulting in poor information systems and continued lack of effective care.
On re:Cycling this month, we aim to amplify the voices of women from around the world for whom endometriosis is either a personal or professional experience, and many times both.
We want readers to know the difference between myths and facts about endometriosis, to learn about treatment options, and to understand what it is really like to live with a condition that can take up to 10 years or more to be diagnosed, all the while growing more severe and debilitating.
Subscribe to re:Cycling so you don’t miss a post. Follow #endometriosisawarenessmonth on Twitter. And share the details of any Endometriosis Awareness Month Events happening in your community.
Laura Wershler is a veteran sexual and reproductive health advocate and writer, SMCR member, and editor-in-chief of re:Cycling.
2016 Endometriosis Awareness Events:
Endo What Film Premiere, March 16, 2016, New York City
Worldwide EndoMarch, March 19, 2016
The Endometriosis Network of Canada
List of events happening around the world (Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA)
Thanks Laura again for you bringing important women’s health issues to light through this blog. Indeed endometriosis is a difficult and complex disease. I do get a little nervous when we start having “_____” month for any disease as I wonder who is making money off of the endeavor, such as the “run for the cure”. That said women suffering need help. I suggest that they seek help from people using functional medicine approaches as they seem to have success in addressing the autoimmune nature of the disease and ameliorating the symptoms and suffering.