ENDOMETRIOSIS - Do You Have Endo? What Are The Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Options?

Double board certified fertility doctor, Natalie Crawford, discusses what endometriosis is and how to know if you have it. In this video she reviews the common signs and symptoms, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment options. There is so much confusion on what endometriosis is, how it develops and what is means for your reproductive life. But the top thing that I see is women suffering in silence or without support.

Questions answered:
What is endometriosis?
What is the endometrium?
What are the risk factors for endometriosis?
Is endometriosis genetic?
Are there environmental factors?
How common is endometriosis?
How is endometriosis diagnosed?
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
How does endometriosis affect fertility?
How do you manage endometriosis?
What lifestyle modifications can you make?
Is surgery always necessary?
What should I look for in a doctor when it comes to treating endometriosis?

Resources:

Seyhan A, Ata B, Uncu G. The Impact of Endometriosis and Its Treatment on Ovarian Reserve. Semin Reprod Med. 2015 Nov;33(6):422-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1567820. Epub 2015 Nov 23.

Parazzini F, Chiaffarino F, Surace M, Chatenoud L, Cipriani S, Chiantera V, Benzi G, Fedele L. Selected food intake and risk of endometriosis. Hum Reprod. 2004 Aug;19(8):1755-9. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deh395. Epub 2004 Jul 14. PMID: 15254009.

Marziali M, Venza M, Lazzaro S, Lazzaro A, Micossi C, Stolfi VM. Gluten-free diet: a new strategy for management of painful endometriosis related symptoms? Minerva Chir. 2012 Dec;67(6):499-504. PMID: 23334113

Fritz and Speroff, Clinical Gynecology Endocrinology and Infertility, 8th edition, 2011

Ansariniya H, Hadinedoushan H, Javaheri A, Zare F. Vitamin C and E supplementation effects on secretory and molecular aspects of vascular endothelial growth factor derived from peritoneal fluids of patients with endometriosis. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2019 Nov;39(8):1137-1142.

Missmer SA, Chavarro JE, Malspeis S, Bertone-Johnson ER, Hornstein MD, Spiegelman D, et al. A prospective study of dietary fat consumption and endometriosis risk. Hum Reprod 2010;25:1528–35.
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Fertility doctor, Natalie Crawford, MD is a double board certified OBGYN and REI, and co-founder of Fora Fertility, a boutique fertility practice in Austin, Texas.

COME SAY HI!!!

FORA FERTILITY:
715 W 34th Street, Austin, TX 78705

Listen to the AS A WOMAN PODCAST here:

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#fertility #fertilitydoctor #nataliecrawfordmd #doctor #asawoman

Sharing fertility facts to educate women about trying to conceive, getting pregnant, ovulation, fertility treatments, IUI, IVF, becoming a doctor, life as a woman in medicine, and more.

[Tanyathestoryteller]

I just gaslighted myself throughout this entire video until you said 'pain when you were a teenager.' Sold.

[porrimmaryam]

As you were listing the 'not normal symptons' I was wondering who the hell would be able to do things like sports, have regular bowel movements on your period, and be able to live your normal life. I didn't even really know that was possible

[Hen-of-the-Month]

This is really off-topic, but I legit thought you were Reese Witherspoon, and I was excited that she was raising awareness about endometriosis. You're still lovely, and I appreciate you discussing this!

[impactfully]

I have endometriosis, thoracic specifically. It is such a difficult situation. It took me nearly 5 years to get a diagnosis. I am on year 11 now. Thanks for sharing this information with the world. Lots of women are suffering silently.

[cosmic_seabunny]

I’m pretty damn sure I have endometriosis, I’ve been stabbed before and the feeling is almost completely the same! The pain is so intense it caused me to throw up when I was younger (I’ve trained myself to not anymore) and when I rest I’ll stay asleep for almost 24 hours. I really don’t want surgery for just for someone to confirm it because everyone in my life has seen me breakdown from pain at least once. They freak out and want me to go to the ER and I have to explain to them I’m not actually dying this is just the way my period is.

[SueRied]

I was diagnosed at 17 in 1980. At the time endometriosis was thought to occur only in women near 35 or older. This was actually the second surgery I had for it. In total I had 9 surgeries including my hysterectomy. Five surgeries were open and four were scopes. I'm so glad that doctors have a better understanding of how this condition effects younger women and teens.

[aliawells]

This video almost made my cry. I was never diagnosed with this. But everything you explain about painful periods, minus vomiting that was me. I never had a problem getting pregnant and my symptoms seemed to have changed once I had children. It is interesting to me that you mention this is autoimmune. I also believe my mom had this situation. So this could be given to me through 2 factors genetically and or because it is autoimmune. I started the carnivore diet and within my first cycle I had expirenced really my first time ever of 0 pain in a period. I felt like a period was a beautiful thing, not something to be dreaded.

[nataliepetit]

I'm 16 and I have extreme period cramps where I take 4-6 ibuprofen pills to help with pain(2-3 at a time until pain comes back), I have diarrhea and I throw up. I end up not eating the first few days of my period because of the pain, if I eat I throw up. My periods also normally last 12-14 days. My last period lasted 16 days. My mom says that some people are like that and not to worry. This has been going on since a year or 2 after I got my first period around 10 yrs old.

[lmeirelesxo]

I went for a hysterectomy today due to pre cancerous cervical cells. I’ve had really bad pelvic pain, period pain and pain during intercourse for a few years now. That’s what made me go get a pap in the first place. Glad I did or I wouldn’t have caught cervical dysplasia. But after my hysterectomy they said they discovered I had started getting endometriosis. THAT would explain the pain I’ve been having. I killed two birds with one stone today. SO glad I had the surgery!

[D.J.F]

I had an investigstion last year into the problems I have with excessive pain and mood swings, I usually have a day or two off work each month because the pain gets too much. I get lower back pain, hip and leg pain, migraines, cramps and spasms, and I get an excruciating sharp pain in the lower left of my abdomen. I nearly called an ambulance the first time I felt it. And the mood swings, well, I feel like a different person. I ususlly isolate myself if I can, because I become so nasty and erratic.

I saw a 'specislist' about it last year, was told my ovaries are 'enlarged' but there was nothing to worry about and until I decide I want children they won't do anything. Didn't care in the slightest that my life self destructs every month, I miss work, and feel pain that literally puts me on the floor.

I left that appointment feeling invisible. Like I don't matter. Unless of course I want to reproduce, then I matter a bit more. But until then I have basically been told to suffer in silence.

[mindydrake]

Yes I have endo and I found out about a decade too late, wa wa, if my gynecologists ever talked to me like you, I might have been able to save my eggs before it was too late . Thank you for sharing such important reproductive health information!

[jen]

Thank you for this video! After many years of undiagnosed endo, finally had a laparoscopy in 2021. This month we are finally starting IVF after conceiving naturally post surgery but unfortunately that resulted in miscarriage. Looking forward to your next video! ❤️

[tinderdateatthedmv]

Just got diagnosed today with 90% certainty stage 3 endometriosis and 2 cysts. The doctor said she was confused how no one had diagnosed me with it before. I will be having an operation next week and medication to suppress it from there, hopefully to avoid a major surgery. Thank you for the informative video! ❤

[alydavis]

I have had inflammation markers on my blood work for years, sent to multiple specialists. This is the first time I have heard it could be related to Endo. After 9 years I finally had a doctor go "your symptoms sound like Endo would you like to have the surgery to check it out?" I went in to have a discussion on a hysterectomy since the pain has been debilitating; this was the first time Endo ever got brought up for me. Scared and excited to see if this is actually what is going on and that it can be managed.

[bellelim]

I used to experience horrible breast pain to the extent that wearing bra and showering were huge struggles. The breast pain always hit me -especially my right breast - at least 2 weeks before menstruation. Symptoms: breast tenderness, lumpy, and formation of cysts and fibroids. This right one has a number of cysts and fibroids than the left. All in all, the discomfort was such a nightmare that i often worried that i had cancer 😢😭

Recently i underwent laparoscopy to remove this culprit from my right ovary after discovering that it had grown bigger to 5cm from an ultrasound.

M so glad that i had it done as i am free from breast pain today! 5 days to menstruation and i am happy ~ say bye bye to mood swing 😊🥳

Just that i have to be on medication permanently and my gynae suggestsd birth control pill to prevent the return of endometriosis.

Another proposed solution is to get pregnant which hopefully will help in hormonal changes 😂 but i am not going for it.

[sheabutta]

I just turned 40 last week. I was diagnosed with endometriosis (through laparoscopy) when I was 16. I went through depo lupron and provera back then. I wish my Dr had discussed fertility with my family and I back then. Anyway, I've never been pregnant and today after binge watching a few of your videos I feel inspired to see if I still have a shot at motherhood.

[michaelalizarragasmahelova]

This video is perfectly put together and incredibly informative. Thank you for making it so easy for us to understand this disease.

[juliebranton]

This is what I needed today. My doctor refuses to even look into it when I’m pretty sure I have it. I had painful periods growing up, dark spotting before my period now, pain gets worse during intercourse, and I’m infertile right now. How can I advocate when my doctor laughs when I bring it up? I’m so frustrated with this whole process.

[K.DeVille]

I have endo and just got a BFP pregnancy test on 8/7/23 hoping and praying my little bean implanted in my uterus and not my tube again. I had an ectopic in January 2018 and lost half of my right tube. Thought I was infertile. God said yes! When I said No ❤️❤️

[summerfrick]

I have endometriosis and got diagnosed at 18. It's definitely been a rough journey only a couple months into it. I got diagnosed with a 3cm endometrioma on my left ovary. I definitely agree that it should be talked about and spread more! It's a very under talked about disease.