March is Endometriosis Awareness Month: Here’s What You Should Know
Updated: Mar 6, 2022
It’s March 1st, so that means it’s the first day of Endometriosis Awareness Month!
Endometriosis Awareness Month is when people in the endo community (patients, medical professionals, and advocates) bring special attention to a chronic disease that affects 1 in 10 people born with a uterus. If you’re on social media, you’ll probably be seeing a variety of posts in reference to endometriosis such as facts/statistics, personal stories, conferences, marches, and fundraisers. This is because endometriosis is a chronic condition that can cause a lot of damage if left untreated, and it's often misdiagnosed, therefore it’s critical to spread awareness so that people know the symptoms and how the disease affects those who have it. Keep reading to learn more about this condition, and how you can help spread awareness!
About endometriosis:
Endometriosis is a disease where uterine-like tissue grows outside of the uterus, causing inflammation and pain. Some of the symptoms are pelvic pain, painful and heavy periods, painful sex, and infertility. Many think that it’s just a reproductive disease, but it can actually spread to other areas of the body. It’s been found on the liver, sciatica nerve, the skin, and even the brain. Medical professionals are unsure of what the cause of endometriosis is, but it’s suspected that hormones, backward-flowing menstruation, and genetics are factors. Sadly, there’s no cure for endometriosis, but the best option for treating the disease is by excision surgery.
It can take 7-10 years for a person to be diagnosed—and even longer for women of color. This is concerning because endometriosis can cause severe pain, so to think about someone suffering for that long before they receive a diagnosis is terrifying to think about. This is why it’s really important to raise awareness about the disease so that those who have it can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
Ways you can help raise awareness if you have been diagnosed:
Post facts or share credible information about endometriosis on social media. Let everyone know why it’s important to bring attention to this disease. You can also find a frame for your profile picture on Facebook in honor of Endometriosis Awareness Month.
Share your personal story about your life with endometriosis. We all may have similar symptoms, but we also have different experiences with this disease that could help someone else.
Create a fundraiser for an endometriosis organization of choice, and ask people to donate to the cause.
Ways you can help raise awareness if you have not been diagnosed with endometriosis:
Do your research about the disease and share the information you learn with your friends and family, especially if you know someone who’s been complaining about very painful periods and infertility. It can be a simple conversation like, “I read about a disease that causes painful periods and infertility, have you heard about it?”.
Share the posts that you see on social media about endometriosis—the more people exposed, the better. Make sure to use those hashtags!
Donate to help organizations that are working hard to spread awareness, fund research, and advocate for endometriosis legislation. Every little bit helps!
So that’s what you need to know about Endometriosis Awareness Month. Please feel free to check out the resource library for endo on my website if you want to learn more about the condition. Remember, if you’re in debilitating pain when you have your period, that is not normal. Contact your doctor immediately if you are having any symptoms.
For my fellow endo warriors, stay strong, take care of your mental and physical health, and choose to keep going.
