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Ever wondered why so many surgeons lack proper training in bowel endometriosis? In this episode of Endo Battery Fast Charged, we uncover startling research that points to a significant gap in medical education, groundbreaking findings that reveal how endometriosis can alter brain activity, the outcome after deep endometriosis surgery, US healthcare system’s support for endometriosis patients, and more.
Click the links below to take a deeper dive into the research!
–Assessment of Education and Management of Endometriosis among Colorectal Surgeons and Residents
–Women with endometriosis in the United States: National Survey of Family Growth, 2011–2019
Website endobattery.com
Understanding Endometriosis and Its Implications
Speaker 1
0:01
Welcome
to
Endobattery
Fast
Charged
,
a
series
dedicated
to
keeping
you
informed
and
empowered
in
the
realm
of
endometriosis
.
Teaming
up
with
board-certified
patient
advocates
,
we
bring
you
the
latest
articles
,
research
and
insights
to
equip
you
with
accurate
information
and
a
deeper
understanding
.
Whether
you're
expanding
your
knowledge
,
staying
updated
or
seeking
clarity
,
you're
in
the
right
place
.
I'm
your
host
,
alana
,
and
is
EndoBattery
Fast
Charged
charging
and
empowering
your
life
with
knowledge
.
Welcome
back
to
EndoBattery
Fast
Charged
.
Today
we're
diving
into
some
really
good
research
,
because
who
doesn't
love
a
good
deep
dive
into
the
latest
studies
?
Right
?
But
first
just
a
quick
reminder
that
correlation
does
not
equal
causation
.
Just
because
I
drink
coffee
every
time
I
feel
productive
doesn't
mean
the
coffee's
magically
giving
me
energy
,
or
does
it
?
Either
way
,
these
research
articles
are
here
to
charge
you
up
and
empower
you
with
knowledge
.
Let's
see
what
they
have
to
offer
.
In
this
first
study
,
it
turns
out
that
colorectal
surgery
residents
might
just
be
getting
their
education
on
bowel
endometriosis
from
you
guessed
it
Google
,
and
that's
not
exactly
a
comforting
thought
.
In
a
recent
study
titled
Assessment
of
Education
and
Management
of
Endometriosis
among
colorectal
surgeons
and
residents
,
researchers
set
out
to
understand
just
how
much
these
future
surgeons
are
learning
about
managing
bowel
endo
.
Spoiler
alert
.
It's
not
much
.
More
than
half
of
the
colorectal
surgeons
surveyed
admitted
they
didn't
receive
any
formal
education
on
bowel
endometriosis
.
Yes
,
you
heard
that
right
no
formal
training
at
all
.
Imagine
showing
up
to
your
job
as
a
chef
and
no
one
ever
taught
you
how
to
use
an
oven
.
It's
like
that
,
but
with
,
you
know
,
like
more
intestines
.
The
study
,
which
surveyed
colorectal
surgery
trainees
from
2012
to
2023
,
found
that
the
majority
of
participants
had
been
exposed
to
drumroll
,
please
a
whopping
one
to
five
cases
of
bowel
endo
during
their
training
.
That's
right
.
Some
surgeons
may
have
spent
more
time
studying
the
hospital
cafeteria's
taco
Tuesday
menu
than
actually
seeing
a
patient
with
endometriosis
.
In
fact
,
only
a
very
specific
3.8%
of
respondents
had
been
involved
in
more
than
15
cases
,
while
40%
felt
their
training
just
didn't
cut
it
when
it
came
to
managing
this
disease
surgically
.
But
hey
,
at
least
we
have
those
3.8%
out
there
living
their
best
bowel
endosurgeon
lives
.
Despite
the
small
study
size
of
70
participants
,
the
results
were
pretty
telling
.
It's
not
that
colorectal
surgeons
don't
want
to
know
how
to
manage
bowel
endometriosis
,
it's
that
no
one's
teaching
them
.
Those
who
did
receive
formal
education
and
hands-on
experience
were
unsurprisingly
more
confident
in
their
skills
Shocking
,
I
know
.
Even
more
surprising
nearly
all
participants
expressed
strong
desire
for
further
education
on
this
topic
Because
,
let's
face
it
,
no
one
likes
to
feel
clueless
in
the
OR
,
especially
when
it
comes
to
handling
a
disease
that
affects
so
many
.
The
authors
of
the
study
weren't
shy
about
calling
for
changes
either
.
They
highlighted
the
need
for
increased
educational
opportunities
on
the
surgical
management
of
bowel
endometriosis
for
colorectal
surgeons
.
It's
almost
like
,
if
we
want
a
better
patient
outcome
,
we
should
actually
train
doctors
who
are
responsible
for
treating
these
patients
.
What
a
concept
.
I'm
just
happy
they're
bringing
this
to
light
,
because
so
many
of
endometriosis
patients
suffer
from
bowel
endometriosis
.
Cheers
to
you
researchers
.
Speaker 1
3:45
Speaking
of
progressive
researchers
,
we're
finally
seeing
more
studies
pop
up
on
connecting
endometriosis
and
mental
health
,
and
one
of
the
latest
ones
might
just
blow
your
mind
literally
.
In
the
research
titled
Psychological
Characteristics
and
Structural
Brain
Changes
in
Women
with
Endometriosis
and
Endometriosis-Independent
Chronic
Pelvic
Pain
Dug
into
weather
,
endometriosis
actually
changes
your
brain
.
Spoiler
alert
it
does
,
but
don't
worry
,
your
brain
isn't
about
to
sprout
tentacles
or
anything
.
That'd
be
a
whole
different
study
.
In
this
small
but
mighty
study
,
researchers
looked
at
the
brains
of
people
with
endometriosis
and
compared
them
to
folks
with
chronic
pelvic
pain
from
other
causes
with
endometriosis
,
and
compared
them
to
folks
with
chronic
pelvic
pain
from
other
causes
.
And
guess
what
?
Despite
both
groups
dealing
with
similar
levels
of
pain
,
solidarity
the
endo
warriors
showed
more
brain
activity
in
areas
like
the
cerebellum
.
So
while
everyone
is
experiencing
pain
,
those
with
endo
were
lighting
up
different
brain
regions
.
Speaker 1
4:49
Endometriosis
isn't
just
affecting
our
pelvis
,
it's
taking
a
tour
upstairs
too
.
The
severity
of
menstrual
pain
and
depressive
symptoms
also
played
a
role
in
the
brain
structure
.
For
both
groups
.
It
seems
that
the
emotional
toll
of
pain
might
leave
its
mark
on
the
brain
,
as
if
endo
wasn't
already
leaving
its
mark
everywhere
else
.
The
researchers
didn't
leave
us
hanging
,
though
.
They
believe
these
specific
brain
changes
linked
to
endometriosis
could
pave
the
way
for
better
treatments
.
Finally
,
something
that
could
help
ease
our
pain
and
give
us
a
good
excuse
for
the
occasional
brain
fog
.
Well
,
take
it
.
So
next
time
you're
dealing
with
that
dreaded
endobrain
,
just
remember
there's
actual
science
behind
why
your
brain
feels
like
it's
been
put
through
the
wringer
.
The
study
didn't
answer
all
the
questions
,
because
of
course
,
that
would
be
too
easy
,
but
it's
a
step
closer
to
understanding
how
endometriosis
uniquely
impacts
the
brain
.
And
if
anyone
ever
tries
to
blame
your
pain
on
just
in
your
head
,
well
,
now
you've
got
the
research
to
prove
that
your
brain's
involved
,
but
in
a
whole
different
way
than
they
think
.
Speaker 1
5:58
On
a
surgical
front
,
a
study
titled
Long-Term
Follow-Up
Regarding
Pain
Relief
,
fertility
and
Reoperation
After
Surgery
for
Deep
Endometriosis
was
conducted
to
look
at
how
surgery
for
deep
endometriosis
holds
up
over
the
long
haul
.
Good
news
almost
90%
of
people
said
their
symptoms
improved
after
surgery
for
at
least
two
years
.
Pain
was
reduced
,
fertility
improved
and
there
were
fewer
.
Why
is
my
uterus
plotting
against
me
moments
Around
45%
of
patients
even
reported
they
were
totally
symptom-free
when
they
were
surveyed
.
So
there's
definitely
some
success
to
celebrate
here
.
Yay
for
medical
advancements
.
Speaker 1
6:37
But
before
we
throw
a
party
,
the
researchers
made
sure
to
give
a
healthy
dose
of
reality
,
because
nothing
says
endometriosis
.
Quite
like
a
mixed
bag
of
news
.
They
reminded
us
that
surgery
isn't
a
magical
cure
,
that
endo
could
come
back
for
a
sequel
,
and
sometimes
the
symptoms
do
too
,
even
if
endometriosis
itself
hasn't
actually
returned
.
So
while
surgery
can
make
you
feel
a
lot
better
,
there's
still
a
potential
for
another
showing
of
endo
,
the
return
requiring
surgery
.
Basically
,
don't
cancel
your
Netflix
subscription
just
yet
.
You
might
still
need
it
for
recovery
downtime
.
The
takeaway
Surgery
for
deep
endometriosis
can
really
help
,
especially
when
it's
done
by
specialized
surgeons
who
focus
on
your
symptoms
and
use
a
multidisciplinary
approach
.
Speaker 1
7:23
This
is
no
time
for
a
random
general
surgeon
.
Yes
,
it's
a
win
for
pain
relief
and
fertility
improvements
,
but
let's
keep
our
expectations
in
check
.
The
doctors
cautioned
that
it's
a
complex
,
multifactorial
process
and
sometimes
your
body
just
decides
to
do
its
own
thing
.
It's
important
to
talk
to
your
doctor
about
all
the
possibilities
and
get
real
about
what
different
treatments
can
and
can't
do
.
This
study
gives
us
some
hope
,
but
reminds
us
to
stay
grounded
in
realistic
expectations
.
So
,
in
summary
,
endosux
surgery
can
help
a
lot
,
but
sometimes
it's
more
a
truce
than
a
full
surrender
.
Speaker 1
8:01
In
this
last
study
making
media
rounds
recently
titled
Women
with
Endometriosis
in
the
United
States
National
Survey
of
Family
Growth
2011
to
2019
,
was
a
study
conducted
of
more
than
17,000
people
in
the
US
aged
15
to
44
,
which
found
that
wait
for
it
more
than
two
thirds
of
these
with
endometriosis
missed
school
or
work
because
of
pain
caused
by
this
disease
.
I
know
,
shocking
right
Turns
out
,
living
with
chronic
pain
might
actually
make
it
harder
to
function
.
Who
would
have
thought
?
But
this
study
didn't
stop
there
.
They
also
highlighted
some
pretty
concerning
disparities
in
diagnosis
.
For
instance
,
black
and
Hispanic
patients
were
less
likely
to
be
diagnosed
with
endometriosis
than
their
white
counterparts
.
Speaker 1
8:52
It's
like
a
painful
game
.
Who
gets
recognized
by
the
healthcare
system
?
Spoiler
alert
it's
not
always
the
people
who
need
it
the
most
.
And
then
,
an
interesting
twist
People
who
identified
as
part
of
the
LGBTQ
plus
community
were
more
likely
to
be
diagnosed
with
endometriosis
compared
to
heterosexual
individuals
.
More
likely
to
be
diagnosed
with
endometriosis
compared
to
heterosexual
individuals
.
It's
almost
if
life
decided
that
handling
social
pressures
wasn't
quite
enough
,
so
why
not
add
a
higher
likelihood
of
endo
into
the
mix
,
just
for
fun
?
Endometriosis Research
Speaker 1
9:21
The
study's
authors
wrapped
things
up
by
calling
for
further
longitudinal
studies
to
dig
deeper
into
how
endometriosis
impacts
quality
of
life
and
fertility
Translation
.
We
need
more
research
to
fully
understand
this
disease
,
but
in
the
meantime
,
people
are
still
out
here
dealing
with
it
every
day
.
And
let's
not
forget
a
study
done
in
this
same
journal
,
where
their
national
survey
spanning
2011
to
2019
doesn't
hold
back
,
confirming
that
the
US
healthcare
system
still
isn't
exactly
winning
gold
medals
when
it
comes
to
helping
people
with
endo
.
But
hey
,
at
least
the
conversation
is
happening
right
,
baby
steps
.
Thank
you
for
tuning
in
this
week
.
I
hope
these
studies
have
left
you
feeling
inspired
and
empowered
to
create
change
and
advocate
more
effectively
.
As
always
,
you
can
find
the
links
to
all
these
articles
mentioned
in
the
episode
description
.
If
you
came
across
a
research
article
you'd
like
us
to
explore
,
feel
free
to
send
it
to
info
at
endobatterycom
.
Until
next
time
,
continue
advocating
for
you
and
for
those
that
you
love
.