Podcast Summary
Ignoring Bodily Signals Can Lead to Serious Health Issues: Listening to your body and addressing symptoms promptly can prevent more significant health issues in the future.
Ignoring signs and symptoms from our bodies, especially those related to our reproductive health, can lead to serious health issues. Susie's story illustrates how she grew up ignoring her body's signals due to a combination of factors, including religious upbringing and societal norms. This led to years of suffering from painful cramps, painful sex, and other symptoms, which she assumed were psychological. However, when she finally sought medical help, she was diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition that could have been treated much earlier if she had listened to her body and addressed her symptoms promptly. This experience serves as a reminder that it's essential to prioritize our health and well-being, pay attention to our bodies, and seek medical help when necessary. Ignoring symptoms can lead to more significant health issues down the line.
A woman's journey with endometriosis: Diagnosis, surgery, and healing: Endometriosis is a chronic condition that often goes undiagnosed, requiring surgery for confirmation. Living with it can be emotionally and physically challenging, but raising awareness and self-compassion can help.
Endometriosis, a chronic condition that affects women, can be difficult to diagnose and may require surgery for confirmation. The speaker in this podcast shared her personal experience of being diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis after years of pain and uncertainty. She underwent a hysterectomy and oophorectomy with the possibility of cancer, but was relieved to find out it was only endometriosis. Although she was unable to have another biological child due to the surgery, she found solace in adopting a puppy and learning to be kinder to herself. The speaker also expressed frustration about the lack of education and awareness surrounding endometriosis, which she felt was a "patriarchal pain trap." This discussion highlights the importance of raising awareness and understanding about endometriosis, as well as the emotional and physical challenges that come with living with this condition.
Misconceptions about Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a condition affecting anyone with a uterus, not just women of childbearing age. It can persist after menopause and even be diagnosed in infants.
Endometriosis, a condition characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, is often misunderstood due to its association with women of childbearing age. This misconception overlooks the fact that anyone with a uterus can develop endometriosis, regardless of age or gender identity. The disease can also persist after menopause and even be diagnosed in infants. By labeling endometriosis as a women's issue, it can be easily dismissed as a normal part of womanhood or a sign of poor pain tolerance. It is essential to recognize the biological aspects of endometriosis and challenge these limiting beliefs. The technical definition of endometriosis involves the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. The uterus, an organ made up of a muscular wall and an inner layer, the endometrium, undergoes constant changes in response to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. These changes prepare the uterus for potential implantation of a blastocyst. Endometriosis occurs when this endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, causing pain, inflammation, and potential complications.
Endometrial tissue growing outside the uterus causes inflammation and damage: Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation, tissue damage, and potential infertility, despite the body recognizing it as abnormal
Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial tissue, which is typically found inside the uterus, grows outside of it on the peritoneum or other organs in the body. This tissue is still hormonally active and undergoes the same menstrual cycle as inside the uterus, leading to inflammation, tissue damage, scarring, and fibrosis. The cause of this tissue ending up in the wrong place is not fully understood, but theories include retrograde menstruation, where menstrual blood flows back into the fallopian tubes and implants outside the uterus. Despite the body recognizing this as abnormal tissue, the inflammation it causes can lead to pain, infertility, and other symptoms. The exact cause of endometriosis remains a mystery.
Three theories for the cause of endometriosis: Theories suggest retrograde menstruation, stem cells, or coelomic metaplasia as potential causes of endometriosis, but none fully explain the condition or why some people develop it while others do not.
The cause of endometriosis is still a mystery, but there are several theories that attempt to explain it. One theory is retrograde menstruation, which suggests that menstrual blood containing endometrial cells flows back through the fallopian tubes into the peritoneal cavity, leading to the growth of endometrial implants. However, this theory does not fully explain why some people develop endometriosis while others do not. Another theory is the stem cell theory, which proposes that stem cells from the bone marrow or the endometrium itself may find their way into the peritoneal cavity and differentiate into endometrial cells. This theory is still being researched and does not fully explain the timing or mechanism of endometriosis development. A third theory is the coelomic metaplasia theory, which suggests that normal abdominal cells undergo mutations and change into endometrial cells. This theory is also still being researched and does not fully explain why some people develop endometriosis while others do not. Currently, the most widely accepted theory is retrograde menstruation, but other theories are being explored to gain a better understanding of the causes of endometriosis. It is important to note that these theories are not mutually exclusive, and it is possible that multiple factors contribute to the development of endometriosis.
Theories on the cause of endometriosis include hormonal imbalances, retrograde menstruation, and genetic factors.: Endometriosis is a complex condition caused by a combination of hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors leading to the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and resulting in inflammation, immune dysregulation, and the formation of adhesions, fibrosis, and cysts.
The exact cause of endometriosis remains a mystery, with theories suggesting hormonal imbalances, retrograde menstruation, and genetic factors. However, it's the combination of these factors and unknown environmental influences that leads to the development of endometriosis in some individuals. The disease is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, leading to inflammation, immune dysregulation, and the formation of adhesions, fibrosis, and cysts. There are three main subtypes of endometriosis: superficial peritoneal lesions, ovarian endometriomas (chocolate cysts), and deeply infiltrating endometriosis. While the cause is not fully understood, research is ongoing to uncover the genetic and epigenetic factors that contribute to the disease.
Deeply infiltrating endometriosis can cause significant damage to important organs and lead to chronic pain: Deeply infiltrating endometriosis can cause damage to the colon, bladder, and ureters, leading to chronic pain beyond menstruation. Chronic pain can result in changes to brain architecture, heightening the response to pain.
Deeply infiltrating endometriosis, characterized by lesions that invade deeper structures, can cause significant pain and damage to important organs such as the colon, bladder, and ureters. While the appearance of endometriosis during surgery does not always correspond with symptom severity, deeply infiltrating endometriosis has the greatest potential to cause problems in other organs. Pain, the hallmark symptom of endometriosis, can manifest in various ways beyond menstruation, including painful sex, defecation, and urination. The neurobiology of endometriosis pain involves increased nerve fiber density and sensitivity in endometriotic implants, leading to more efficient pain signal transmission to the brain. Additionally, chronic pain can result in brain architecture changes that prime the body to experience greater pain from the same stimuli as someone without chronic pain. It's important to note that these brain changes do not imply a low pain tolerance but rather a heightened response to pain due to chronic pain experience. Furthermore, the comorbidity of chronic pain conditions like endometriosis and mood disorders like depression and anxiety can exacerbate the experience of pain.
Endometriosis: A Complex Condition Affecting Both Physical and Mental Health: Endometriosis is a complex condition linked to chronic pain, mental health issues, and infertility. Treatment options vary from hormonal birth control and surgery to hysterectomy, but understanding its causes and impacts is essential for effective management.
Chronic pain and mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, can influence each other in the context of endometriosis. Both conditions can lead to changes in brain architecture, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of worsening symptoms. Endometriosis is also strongly associated with infertility, but the exact mechanisms are unknown. It may be due to scarring or inflammation in the pelvis, which can affect the egg's journey to the uterus. Treatment for endometriosis is complex and varies from person to person. Hormonal birth control can be effective for some, but not for all. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists can put a person into early menopause and block all menstrual cycle hormones, but they come with significant side effects. Surgery, once considered the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment, is now seen as only one option among many. Ablation or excision of endometrial lesions can improve pain for some, but it can also create more inflammation and adhesions. Hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus, is not curative but is still performed in some cases. Despite the many questions that remain, it's clear that endometriosis is a complex condition with far-reaching impacts on physical and mental health. Understanding its causes and available treatments is crucial for those affected and their healthcare providers.
History of Endometriosis Tied to Gender Biases: Endometriosis, a common condition affecting 10-15% of people, has been misunderstood and underdiagnosed due to gender biases and stigma surrounding women's health. This has led to disparities in diagnosis and treatment, particularly for marginalized communities and those with lower income.
The history and understanding of endometriosis are deeply intertwined with gender biases and disparities in healthcare. Endometriosis, a condition that affects people assigned female at birth and can cause debilitating pain, infertility, and other health issues, has been misunderstood and underdiagnosed for decades. Despite being common, with estimates suggesting it affects 10-15% of the population, endometriosis has long been stigmatized as a women's issue, leading to a lack of research and resources dedicated to understanding and treating it. This gendered bias has contributed to the delayed diagnosis and mistreatment of endometriosis, with studies showing that people from marginalized communities and those with lower income are disproportionately affected. Furthermore, the taboo surrounding menstruation and women's health in general has led to a lack of awareness and education about endometriosis, perpetuating the belief that debilitating periods are normal and that people should just "tough it out." It's important to note that endometriosis can also affect people who don't identify as women, and efforts must be made to include their experiences in the conversation. In short, the story of endometriosis highlights the importance of challenging gender biases and advocating for equitable healthcare for all.
Understanding Endometriosis and PCOS: Opposites on a Spectrum: Excessive or insufficient prenatal testosterone exposure can lead to negative health effects, such as painful menstrual cramps or endometriosis, highlighting the importance of maintaining a balanced hormonal environment.
Endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may be opposites on a spectrum determined by prenatal testosterone exposure. Essentially, too much or too little of certain traits associated with fertility can have negative effects. For instance, high levels of uterine contractions can help deliver a baby with a large head, but excessive contractions can cause painful menstrual cramps. Similarly, inflammation, which is beneficial for maintaining health, can become detrimental when present in high quantities. These findings suggest that endometriosis, an ancient disease with descriptions dating back to ancient Egypt and Greece, may have emerged due to the extremes of these traits. Despite being often referred to as a modern disease, there is evidence that humans have been experiencing endometriosis for millennia. It's essential to continue investigating whether the prevalence of endometriosis is increasing and, if so, determine the underlying causes.
Historical taboo and shame surrounding menstruation: Stigma around menstruation hinders knowledge, understanding, and timely diagnoses, leading to significant health inequities for those who menstruate.
The stigma surrounding menstruation and periods has profound implications for public health and creates significant inequities for those who menstruate. Throughout history, menstruation and menstrual health have been shrouded in taboo and shame, leading to a lack of knowledge and understanding about normal menstrual processes and conditions like endometriosis. This stigma has resulted in damaging silences, where people are uncomfortable discussing their own periods, leading to misconceptions and delayed diagnoses. Furthermore, the historical exclusion of women from medical education and practice has hindered the progress in understanding and treating menstrual conditions. The book "Doing Harm" by Maya Dusenberry and "Pain and Prejudice" by Gabrielle Jackson shed light on the systemic issues in medicine and how women have been and continue to be mistreated, including the lack of research and awareness around menstrual health and conditions like endometriosis.
Historical exclusion of women from medical research: The lack of understanding of women's health issues in the medical system is rooted in historical exclusion and unconscious bias, leading to mistreatment and undertreatment of women.
The lack of knowledge and trust in women's health issues by the medical system is a deeply rooted problem with historical origins. This issue, known as the knowledge gap and trust gap, reinforces each other, leading to the mistreatment and undertreatment of women. The knowledge gap stems from the historical exclusion of women and people of color from medical research and education, resulting in less understanding of women's bodies and health issues. The trust gap arises from the fact that women's symptoms are often not believed due to this lack of knowledge. These issues are not caused by a few bad apples in the medical system but rather by unconscious bias that is structurally embedded. The exclusion of women from clinical trials in the past, while intended to protect them, has led to a lack of understanding of how drugs affect women, perpetuating the knowledge gap. It's important to recognize and address these historical and structural issues to improve women's health outcomes.
Historical exclusion of women from medical studies: Outdated beliefs led to women's exclusion from medical research, resulting in a knowledge gap and potential harm to women's health
Historical medical research has significantly excluded women from studies, leading to a knowledge gap and potential harm. This exclusion was often due to outdated beliefs that men's bodies were simpler or that women's bodies were too complicated. The lack of inclusion of women in medical studies cannot be solely attributed to protective policies, as women were also explicitly excluded based on assumptions about their menstrual cycles and hormonal shifts. The consequences of this exclusion are far-reaching, from inadequate understanding of how drugs affect women to inadequate treatment of chronic pain. The medical community's historical lack of consideration of women's health has led to significant disparities and continues to impact women's health today. It wasn't until the late 1980s that women's voices were heard, leading to demands for better representation in medical research. Despite progress, more work needs to be done to ensure that women are included in medical studies and that their unique health needs are addressed.
Gender disparities in pain research and healthcare: Despite differences in how women and men experience pain, a significant portion of animal pain studies exclude females. This gender bias, along with social factors and biases, can lead to misdiagnoses and delayed treatment, with potentially fatal consequences.
There are significant disparities in how research on pain and health conditions is conducted and perceived based on sex and gender. Studies have shown that women experience pain differently than men, yet a large percentage of animal pain studies have used male animals only. This is just one aspect of the knowledge gap, which also includes gender bias and social factors that influence health. The delay in recognizing and addressing these issues can lead to deadly consequences, as seen in the example of heart attacks, where women's symptoms are often overlooked or dismissed. The history of hysteria, which was once believed to be a disease caused by a wandering uterus, highlights the deep-rooted trust gap between women and the medical community. Despite progress, there is still a long way to go in ensuring equitable research and accurate diagnoses for all.
The history of hysteria's diagnosis and treatment: Historically, women's symptoms were disregarded, leading to harmful treatments for hysteria, perpetuated by a focus on objective signs and a shift from person-centered to body-centered medicine, and continuing to impact women's healthcare today.
The introduction of measuring tools and medical specialization in medicine led to a shift from focusing on the person to focusing on the body, resulting in a distinction between objective signs and subjective symptoms. This distinction, in turn, led to the medicalization and misdiagnosis of hysteria as a neurological or psychological disorder throughout history. Women's symptoms were often disregarded, leading to damaging and even fatal treatments. Freud's transformation of hysteria into a psychological disorder further perpetuated the belief that women were unreliable sources on their own bodies and led to the increase in psychogenic illness diagnoses throughout the 20th century. This history explains how women have been treated in medicine and continues to impact how women's pain and symptoms are perceived and diagnosed today. It's important to recognize these implicit gender biases and strive for more equitable healthcare for all.
Implicit biases in medical diagnosis and treatment: Implicit biases can lead to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment for women, perpetuating stereotypes and causing unnecessary pain and frustration for both patients and physicians.
Implicit biases in the medical field can significantly impact how patients, particularly women, are diagnosed and treated. A study from 2006 revealed that doctors were more likely to diagnose heart disease in men than women, even when their symptoms were similar. This gender bias persisted when stressful life events were added to the descriptions. The explanation for women's symptoms shifted from biological to psychological, and there was no difference in the results based on the gender of the doctors. This bias can manifest in various ways, including dismissing women's pain as being "all in their heads" or attributing their symptoms to their gender or social roles. For example, an 11-year-old girl with severe abdominal pain was initially misdiagnosed with menstrual cramps, even though she hadn't started her period yet. This bias can lead to frustration and resentment among physicians, as they struggle to find answers for patients with conditions that are not easily observable or measurable. Despite progress in raising awareness of endometriosis, stereotypes about the disease persist, and physicians often fail to communicate effectively with patients about their symptoms. This can result in long and painful delays in diagnosis. It's crucial to recognize that periods shouldn't be painful, and pain should be believed and understood, regardless of gender. We need to challenge and address these biases to ensure that all patients receive the care and attention they deserve.
Endometriosis: A Misunderstood Condition Affecting Millions: Endometriosis affects up to 10% of women, causing chronic pelvic pain for up to 60%. Despite its severity, it's often overlooked and underfunded due to societal biases and misconceptions.
The prevalence of endometriosis, a condition affecting up to 10% of women of childbearing age, is not well understood due to a lack of comprehensive research and misconceptions about its severity. Endometriosis can cause chronic pelvic pain, and up to 60% of those suffering from such pain may have endometriosis as the cause. Despite these staggering statistics, endometriosis is often overlooked and underfunded due to societal biases and misclassification as a benign condition. The condition can metastasize and cause damage to various organs, yet it is often dismissed as harmless due to its lack of direct fatal consequences. This lack of understanding and prioritization perpetuates the suffering of millions, highlighting the need for increased awareness, research, and empathy towards those affected by endometriosis.
Endometriosis is not a benign condition as commonly perceived: Endometriosis, though classified as benign in medical terms, is not a normal tissue type and carries a higher risk of ovarian cancer. Researchers are working to improve diagnosis and treatment, and it's crucial to raise awareness about its impact and economic burden.
The use of the term "benign" to describe endometriosis in medical contexts can be misleading and contributes to a lack of understanding and empathy for those living with the condition. Endometriosis is not a benign condition in the colloquial sense, despite being classified as such in medical terms due to its non-invasive nature and subsidence after menopause. However, it is not a normal tissue type either, and it carries a higher risk of ovarian cancer. The language used to describe endometriosis can influence how it is perceived and treated within the medical community. Researchers are working to develop better diagnostic markers and personalized treatment options, and it is crucial to raise awareness about the condition and its impact on those living with it. The economic burden of endometriosis is significant, with millions of missed school and work days each year. Ultimately, it is essential to recognize that endometriosis is a complex and still largely misunderstood condition that requires further research and understanding.
Exploring the History, Evolution, and Epidemiology of Endometriosis: Endometriosis' medical history is complex, its evolutionary biology intriguing, and its epidemiology poorly understood. Key sources include papers by Nezhat et al, Dinsdale et al, Best Practice and Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nature Reviews Endocrinology, and the Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease.
Endometriosis, a common gynecological disorder, is shrouded in mystery when it comes to its medical history, evolutionary biology, epidemiology, and diagnosis. The medical history of endometriosis is complex and debated, with various researchers claiming priority in its discovery. For a comprehensive understanding, a paper by Nezhat et al from 2012 is recommended. The evolutionary biology of endometriosis is also intriguing, and two papers by Dinsdale et al from 2021 provide valuable insights. The epidemiology and pathophysiology of endometriosis are poorly understood, as stated in a paper from Best Practice and Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2021. Several other papers delve deeper into the mechanisms of endometriosis, including those from Nature Reviews Endocrinology in 2019 and the Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease in 2020. All these sources, including over 88 episodes of this podcast, can be found on our website, thispodcastwillkillyou.com. We appreciate Susie sharing her story and thank listeners for tuning in. A special thanks to our patrons on Patreon for their support. Stay tuned for more episodes, and remember, wash your hands!
