Send us a text with a question or thought on this episode ( We cannot replay from this link)
Is pregnancy really a cure for endometriosis, or just another myth we’ve been led to believe? We’re pulling back the curtain on this age-old belief with the latest research that paints a far more complex picture. Join us as we unpack the significant findings from the study “Endometriosis and Risk Factors in Pregnancy, Labor, and Delivery.” Here, we reveal the heightened risks of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and other complications that challenge the oversimplified advice often given to those with endometriosis. Alongside passionate discussions and insights, we emphasize the crucial need for comprehensive and informed care for expecting mothers navigating this condition.
Yet, the conversation doesn’t stop there. Sexual health communication for those with endometriosis often feels like the elephant in the exam room—unacknowledged and unaddressed. Inspired by the compelling study “No Doctor Ever Asked Me, So I Thought It Wasn’t a Valid Concern,” we expose the barriers that stifle these vital discussions. We delve into patient experiences to illuminate systemic issues, training gaps, and the often awkward dynamics between doctors and patients. Our mission? To empower individuals with the confidence and knowledge to advocate for their sexual health and get the well-rounded care they deserve.
Links
Endometriosis and risk factors in pregnancy, labor and delivery: a case-control study. Minerva Obstet Gynecol.
“No doctor ever asked me…so I thought it wasn’t a valid concern”: endometriosis patients’ perspectives of barriers and facilitators to sexual health communication in general practice. J Sex Med. Published online November 14, 2024.
How does surgery influence female sexuality in patients with endometriosis compared to those with other benign gynecological conditions?. BMC Med. 2024;22(1):508.
Patient Perception and Experience of Laparoscopic Excision vs. Ablation of endometriosis: a crowd-sourced comparative evaluation of symptom and Quality of Life outcomes. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. Published online October 25, 2024.
Website endobattery.com
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
this
is
IndoBattery
Fast
Charged
charging
and
empowering
your
life
with
knowledge
.
Welcome
back
to
IndoBattery
Fast
Charged
.
Speaker 1
0:34
Today
we're
diving
into
some
pretty
exciting
new
research
,
stirring
up
conversation
in
the
Indo
world
.
But
first
let's
get
one
thing
straight
Correlation
does
not
equal
causation
.
It's
like
noticing
that
every
time
I
clean
my
house
,
someone
immediately
drops
by
unannounced
.
Is
my
cleaning
causing
the
visitors
to
appear
?
No
,
but
it
is
suspicious
,
isn't
it
?
Anyway
,
grab
your
favorite
drink
,
get
cozy
and
let's
break
down
what
this
research
is
saying
and
what
it
really
means
.
Let's
get
started
.
This
first
study
that
we're
going
to
look
at
takes
a
bit
of
a
personal
note
for
me
,
so
if
I
sound
passionate
about
it
,
it's
because
I
am
,
because
if
you've
heard
this
,
just
get
pregnant
and
your
endometriosis
will
go
away
.
It's
a
suggestion
that's
been
passed
around
like
an
old
wives
tale
,
and
,
like
many
old
wives
tales
,
it's
not
exactly
grounded
in
reality
.
Speaker 1
1:26
While
some
people
with
endometriosis
do
experience
temporary
symptom
relief
during
pregnancy
,
a
recent
study
titled
Endometriosis
and
Risk
Factors
in
Pregnancy
,
labor
and
Delivery
a
case
control
study
paints
a
more
complicated
picture
.
Spoiler
alert
pregnancy
is
not
a
magic
fix
for
endometriosis
and
it
can
even
add
its
own
set
of
challenges
.
Researchers
compared
91
pregnant
individuals
with
endometriosis
to
273
without
it
,
matched
by
age
,
to
see
how
their
pregnancies
and
deliveries
stacked
up
the
results
those
with
endometriosis
were
more
likely
to
face
issues
like
gestational
hypertension
,
at
4.4%
versus
0.8%
,
and
preeclampsia
,
at
2.2%
versus
0%
.
Oh
,
and
placenta
previa
,
where
the
placenta
inconveniently
covers
the
cervix
.
That
showed
up
in
3.3%
of
the
endo
group
and
a
grand
total
of
zero
in
the
controlled
group
.
As
for
delivery
,
endometriosis
didn't
exactly
make
things
easier
.
C-sections
were
nearly
three
times
more
common
,
at
29.6%
versus
11.3%
,
and
postpartum
hemorrhage
or
excessive
bleeding
after
delivery
occurred
in
26.5%
of
endo
cases
,
compared
to
11.9%
in
the
non-endo
group
.
Speaker 1
2:49
So
while
some
people
might
expect
pregnancy
to
act
like
a
vacation
from
endometriosis
,
the
reality
can
feel
more
like
a
stressful
detour
with
added
complications
.
So
what's
the
takeaway
?
Endometriosis
increases
the
risk
of
certain
pregnancy
and
delivery
complications
,
and
doctors
need
to
keep
this
in
mind
while
providing
care
.
It's
not
about
fear-mongering
.
It's
about
making
sure
people
with
endometriosis
are
well-informed
and
well-supported
during
pregnancy
.
So
the
next
time
someone
offers
you
the
just-get-pregnant
cure-all
,
feel
free
to
share
these
facts
with
a
smile
or
well-timed
eye
roll
,
because
while
pregnancy
might
not
fix
endometriosis
,
being
prepared
and
surrounded
by
knowledgeable
care
can
help
ensure
the
best
possible
outcomes
.
Have
you
ever
said
or
thought
or
heard
no
doctor
ever
asked
me
,
so
I
thought
it
wasn't
a
valid
concern
.
That
quote
,
which
also
inspired
the
title
of
a
recently
published
study
in
the
Journal
of
Sexual
Medicine
no
doctor
ever
asked
me
,
so
I
thought
it
wasn't
a
valid
concern
.
Speaker 1
3:53
Endometriosis
patients'
perspectives
of
barriers
and
facilitators
to
sexual
health
.
Communication
in
general
practice
captures
a
stark
truth
about
how
sexual
health
is
addressed
,
or
more
often
ignored
,
in
healthcare
.
Here's
the
thing
it's
not
great
.
Researchers
dug
into
this
issue
by
asking
141
people
with
endometriosis
to
share
their
experiences
,
and
the
results
were
as
frustrating
as
they
were
illuminating
.
Turns
out
,
patients
want
to
talk
about
sexual
health
like
painful
sex
,
but
often
don't
because
barriers
get
in
the
way
.
These
barriers
break
down
into
four
main
categories
Systemic
issues
,
like
healthcare
policies
that
ignore
sexual
health
.
Doctor-specific
problems
hello
.
Lack
of
training
.
And
patient
comfort
,
because
who
loves
bringing
up
this
unprompted
and
interpersonal
dynamics
?
That
awkward
are
we
even
on
the
same
team
vibe
between
doctor
and
patient
?
It's
no
wonder
patients
leave
appointments
with
unanswered
questions
about
something
as
central
to
their
well-being
as
sexual
health
.
Let's
start
with
the
systems
.
Policies
seem
to
treat
sexual
health
like
a
forgotten
cousin
at
a
family
reunion
,
technically
part
of
the
big
picture
,
but
never
invited
to
the
main
table
.
Speaker 1
5:07
Doctors
,
meanwhile
,
don't
get
much
help
from
the
medical
training
.
You'd
think
there
would
be
a
crash
course
on
asking
questions
like
does
sex
hurt
or
how
does
endometriosis
impact
intimacy
for
you
?
Instead
,
many
patients
report
their
doctors
are
about
as
equipped
for
this
conversation
as
a
fish
is
for
a
marathon
.
And
then
there's
the
patient
perspective
.
It's
not
easy
to
bring
up
sexual
health
concerns
when
the
vibe
in
the
room
seems
quick
.
We've
got
five
minutes
.
What's
the
worst
thing
bothering
you
today
?
Add
in
societal
stigma
and
internalized
shame
and
suddenly
patients
are
stuck
thinking
maybe
this
isn't
worth
mentioning
.
Lastly
,
let's
talk
about
the
doctor-patient
relationship
.
If
your
doctor
seems
more
interested
in
wrapping
things
up
than
understanding
your
experience
,
are
you
going
to
spill
your
guts
about
painful
intimacy
?
Yeah
,
I
didn't
think
so
.
Speaker 1
5:59
The
study
,
while
insightful
,
did
come
with
limitations
.
Its
participants
were
likely
those
already
struggling
with
sexual
dysfunction
and
motivated
to
speak
up
about
it
.
But
even
with
that
caveat
,
the
message
is
clear
.
People
with
endometriosis
want
these
conversations
to
happen
.
They
just
need
doctors
to
step
up
and
ask
the
questions
.
Healthcare
systems
need
to
prioritize
sexual
health
,
medical
training
needs
a
serious
upgrade
and
doctors
need
to
lean
into
the
awkwardness
of
these
conversations
.
After
all
,
a
simple
does
sex
hurt
?
Could
go
a
long
way
in
validating
patients'
concerns
.
Until
then
,
studies
like
this
will
keep
sounding
the
alarm
and
patients
will
keep
waiting
for
someone
anyone
to
actually
ask
.
Speaker 1
6:47
If
you've
ever
wondered
whether
endometriosis
surgery
could
spice
things
up
in
the
bedroom
,
this
study
,
titled
how
Does
Surgery
Influence
Female
Sexuality
in
Patients
with
Endometriosis
,
compared
to
those
with
Benign
Gynecological
Conditions
,
has
some
answers
,
though
it
may
leave
you
scratching
your
head
a
bit
.
Researchers
set
out
to
compare
how
surgery
impacts
sexual
function
in
patients
with
endometriosis
versus
those
with
other
benign
gynecological
conditions
.
The
results
Pre-surgery
everyone's
sexual
function
scores
were
similarly
unimpressive
,
because
nothing
says
romantic
evening
like
pelvic
pain
and
gynecological
woes
.
Post-surgery
,
though
,
things
got
interesting
.
For
individuals
with
endometriosis
,
having
surgery
to
remove
the
disease
led
to
a
significant
improvement
in
sexual
function
scores
.
Translation
cut
out
the
endometriosis
and
it
seems
like
your
body
will
give
you
a
standing
ovation
,
or
at
least
stop
actively
booing
.
Speaker 1
7:42
However
,
folks
dealing
with
other
conditions
,
the
surgical
magic
didn't
translate
into
a
noticeable
sexual
renaissance
.
It's
almost
like
endometriosis
was
the
ringleader
of
the
circus
and
once
it
was
evicted
,
the
whole
chaotic
act
settled
down
.
What's
especially
telling
is
that
,
despite
the
shared
surgical
experience
,
only
the
endo
group
saw
real
improvements
.
This
hints
that
endometriosis
isn't
just
a
physical
burden
.
It's
a
heavyweight
champ
in
the
ruin
everything
fun
category
.
And
while
the
study
reaffirms
what
others
have
already
suggested
,
that
cutting
out
endometriosis
improves
sexual
function
,
it's
nice
to
see
the
pattern
hold
firm
,
almost
like
science
yelling
.
Yes
,
we've
been
telling
you
this
for
years
.
But
in
summary
,
if
endometriosis
is
your
uninvited
party
crasher
,
surgery
is
the
bouncer
kicking
it
out
.
For
other
conditions
maybe
,
surgery
is
just
the
equivalent
of
someone
turning
down
the
music
slightly
.
It's
helpful
,
but
it's
not
revolutionizing
the
vibe
.
So
while
this
study
doesn't
solve
every
mystery
about
sex
and
surgery
,
it
does
give
endometriosis
patients
another
reason
to
consider
excision
,
because
sometimes
life
and
love
really
is
better
on
the
other
side
of
the
scalpel
.
Speaker 1
8:54
When
it
comes
to
surgical
treatment
for
endometriosis
,
a
recent
study
highlights
the
stark
difference
between
laparoscopic
excision
and
ablation
in
terms
of
patient-reported
outcomes
.
The
study
titled
Patient
Perception
and
Experience
of
Laparoscopic
Excision
vs
Ablation
of
Endometriosis
a
crowdsourced
comparative
evaluation
of
symptom
and
quality
of
Laparoscopic
Excision
vs
Ablation
of
Endometriosis
a
crowdsourced
comparative
evaluation
of
symptom
and
quality
of
life
outcomes
reveals
that
excision
surgery
outperforms
ablation
across
nearly
every
measure
,
from
symptom
relief
to
overall
quality
of
life
.
Patients
who
underwent
excision
reported
a
significant
improvement
in
all
physical
symptoms
,
with
reductions
ranging
from
28%
to
46%
.
In
contrast
,
those
who
had
ablation
experienced
only
modest
relief
,
such
as
11.3%
improvement
in
painful
periods
and
8.5%
improvement
in
heavy
menstrual
bleeding
.
Alarmingly
,
no
other
physical
symptoms
showed
measurable
improvements
after
ablation
.
These
findings
underline
excision's
role
as
a
more
comprehensive
treatment
option
for
managing
endometriosis-related
pain
and
discomfort
.
Speaker 1
10:03
Beyond
physical
symptoms
,
the
difference
in
functional
,
psycho-emotional
and
social
outcomes
were
just
as
striking
.
Ablation
appeared
to
either
leave
functional
issues
unchanged
or
worsen
them
,
while
excision
led
to
noticeable
enhancements
in
patients'
ability
to
perform
daily
activities
.
Emotionally
,
patients
who
underwent
ablation
reported
declines
in
quality
of
life
,
whereas
those
treated
with
excision
noted
improvements
across
22
out
of
24
measures
.
Socially
and
sexually
,
the
patterns
persisted
.
Ablation
worsened
conditions
,
while
excision
resulted
in
significant
progress
,
offering
patients
improved
intimacy
and
relationships
.
Economically
and
educationally
,
the
impacts
of
the
two
procedures
also
diverged
.
Ablation
contributed
to
economic
and
educational
setbacks
or
negligible
improvements
,
reflecting
its
limited
ability
to
address
the
burden
of
endometriosis
effectively
.
Conversely
,
excision
surgery
helped
patients
regain
financial
and
educational
stability
,
further
highlighting
its
holistic
benefits
.
Speaker 1
11:12
The
study's
conclusion
is
clear
Excision
is
a
superior
surgical
option
for
managing
endometriosis
symptoms
and
enhancing
quality
of
life
.
This
finding
aligns
with
many
patients'
lived
experiences
.
As
well
as
those
who
undergone
both
procedures
consistently
report
excision
as
the
more
effective
approach
.
As
such
,
the
evidence
strongly
supports
excision
as
the
gold
standard
for
surgical
management
of
endometriosis
,
reaffirming
what
advocates
and
specialists
have
said
all
along
.
For
anyone
navigating
treatment
options
,
this
study
offers
compelling
evidence
to
consider
excision
surgery
as
the
optimal
path
towards
symptom
relief
and
improved
life
satisfaction
.
It's
a
reminder
that
effective
care
is
not
just
about
addressing
symptoms
,
but
about
empowering
individuals
to
reclaim
their
lives
.
Thank
you
for
joining
me
for
this
episode
of
Endobattery
Fast
Charged
.
If
this
left
you
invigorated
to
learn
more
about
these
articles
,
the
links
to
each
of
these
articles
is
in
the
description
of
this
podcast
.
If
you
have
an
article
or
a
study
that
you
would
like
me
to
take
a
look
at
and
break
down
a
little
bit
,
send
that
to
me
at
contactendobatterycom
.
And
until
next
time
,
continue
advocating
for
you
and
for
those
that
you
love
.