03/29/2026
𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗦...
I’ve treated people with endo for years…
and always suspected I had it myself.
But in my day(I'm not super old, but medicine for "girl problems" is archaic).
I was told I just had “bad periods.” Go on birth control and move along.
Even when I was doubled over for 1–2 days, missing life, pushing through pain that was anything but normal.
Like so many others—I moved on, adapted, and didn’t question it enough.
𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗼.
She has been diagnosed, mostly becuase I am aware, not because she was taken seriously by her providers.
And I find myself in a very different position,
trying to help her navigate options, understand her body, and make decisions with more support than we ever had but still so many providers who are unaware. It changes everything when it’s your child and as a pelvic PT- I know too much and I am not sure that is helpful.
𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆.
This month, I reconnected with my cousin after I saw a post about her daughter. This is Elin in the pictures.
She just had her second endometriosis surgery.
She’s a teenager who simply wants to feel normal again and has been suffering.
She stood on a stage at the Global Endometriosis Conference this month and shared her story. She has a great team and parents working hard toward a "normal" life. She plans to go to college next year, on a golf scholarship and major in nursing. That takes courage, hard work and a great team, especially at 17!
As we talked, we started connecting dots across our family—
autoimmune conditions, chronic symptoms, patterns that were missed or dismissed for years. We are a mess!
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱:
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women.
That’s more common than diabetes and approaching the prevalence of heart disease in women.
And it doesn’t happen in isolation.
If you have a first-degree relative with endometriosis, your risk increases 7–10x.
We also see strong links with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions—thyroid disorders, IBS, migraines, POTS, EDS—patterns that show up again and again in the same person or across families. Nobody just has Endo. There is usually a list!
This isn’t “just a period problem.”
This is a whole-body, systemic condition with genetic and immune system influences. If you have "bad periods," auto-immune conditions or any of the above conditions, talk you your doctor about endometriosis! If they blow you off, find another provider who is informed!
𝗦𝗼 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝘂𝗽…
I’m thinking about Elin and her recovery.
About my daughter and what is to come.
About our genetically challenged family members😂
About all the stories that were missed for too long.
Here’s to earlier answers.
Better support.
And a future where no one waits 10 years to be believed.
