What Can You Do To Recognize Endometriosis Month This March?

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and our Idaho Utah Fertility Center team uses this opportunity to help spread awareness for this common medical condition. Endometriosis Association created this awareness program in 1993 to help shine a light on this chronic condition that affects approximately 200 million women around the globe and one out of every 10 women in the United States. As recent as July of 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved raising the necessary funding for endometriosis research from $13 million a year to $26 million a year, and that’s no chump change!

Endometriosis: What is it?

This often painful medical condition can affect women everywhere as tissue grows outside of a woman’s uterus where it shouldn’t be. Even though scientists still don’t know the exact cause of endometriosis, it does seem to be related to something called retrograde menstruation. Retrograde menstruation happens when your tissues that line the inside of your uterus flows out through your fallopian tubes whenever your period comes along. You will likely know it too because you’ll experience inflammation and pain when this tissue forms on bodily surfaces and organs around your pelvic region leaving you with pain in one of these areas:

-Fallopian tubes
-Bladder
-Bowels
-Intestines
-Ovaries
-Perineum
-Rectovaginal septum (separating the vagina from the rectum)

But painful periods aren’t the only symptom you might have. You can also experience:

-Pain while having sexual intercourse
-Irregular bleeding
-Digestive problems
-Infertility

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome when it comes to Endometriosis is that it is altogether too easy to misdiagnose and even miss it in the first place! This is why we support others working to increase education and awareness around this unrelenting condition. You have to know what you are looking for to spot a problem to begin with! Our Idaho Fertility Center team supports organizations that shine a spotlight on Endometriosis in March. Thankfully, if your endometriosis condition is discovered and treated in the early stages, you can often manage your symptoms so you don’t end up in surgery, unexpectedly having a hysterectomy.

How can you participate in Endometriosis Awareness Month?

-Help inform others
-Support a fundraiser
-Join a March
-Add a yellow ribbon to your outfit to inspire a conversation

Other ways you can participate is to join EndoFound at one of their virtual events:

-March 15-31, 2021, join the Video Awareness Campaign where you can share your experience and be a part of the solution to help remove the stigma around endometriosis.

-March 20-21, 2021, join the Global Endo24 Virtual Medical Conference in partnership with the International Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy at their 24-hour event for women struggling with endometriosis

-March 19-21, join the International Patient Conference 2021 so you can learn the latest ways to help you live with endometriosis and still have a better quality of life.

Spread the Word

If you want to volunteer or fundraise to help spread the word about endometriosis, EndoFound’s website offers social media links to help you do just that. Your story is important and in fact, helping others in the same boat often starts with your experience. By speaking with others like yourself, the stigma around this condition and menstruation can gradually evaporate as you help eliminate societal taboos. Social media creates an open space for discussion. You can help others experience relief by sharing your story, and seeing firsthand that there are many women going through the same thing. You also deserve to be heard. Here are some great online resources to get you started (and don’t forget to do a Google search if you want to connect with local groups in your immediate area:

Facebook Groups:

-Endometriosis.org
-Endometriosis Association
-Endometriosis Research Center
-Endopaedia
-Nancy’s Nook Endometriosis Education (a private group)

If you are on Instagram, check out the Top Endometriosis Instagrammers:
https://www.everydayhealth.com/endometriosis/best-endometriosis-instagram-accounts/

Twitter:

@Endofound
@Endometriosis
@MyEndoTeam
@Endometriosis11

Are you ready for your voice to be heard or want to help create awareness for endometriosis research and funding? Your story can help bring peace and healing to yourself and others like you. Our Idaho Fertility Center team is here to help you if you struggle with infertility or fertility issues like endometriosis. Please call us at 208-529-2019 if you are looking for answers to your questions or concerns about infertility in Idaho Falls, Idaho. We are here for you!

Article Resource:
https://www.everydayhealth.com/endometriosis/awareness-month/