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This episode delves deep into the latest research on endometriosis, emphasizing the critical importance of complete surgical excision and its substantial benefits for patients’ quality of life, particularly regarding sexual health. We discuss how laparoscopic surgery can significantly improve the overall well-being of individuals with endometriosis, the enduring challenges in obtaining timely diagnoses, and the recent rebranding of bladder pain syndrome, all underscoring the need for informed patient advocacy.
• Examining the effects of endometriosis on sexual life
• The impact of complete excision vs. incomplete removal
• Laparoscopic surgery as a catalyst for improvement
• Addressing fertility in the context of endometriosis
• The persistent delays in endometriosis diagnosis
• Understanding the newly named Female Bladder Pain Syndrome
• Encouragement for self-advocacy and informed decision-making
Links
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
is
EndoBattery
Fast
Charged
charging
and
empowering
your
life
with
knowledge
.
Welcome
to
EndoBattery
Fast
Charged
,
where
I
break
down
big
ideas
into
bite-sized
insights
to
keep
your
energy
up
and
your
mind
sharp
.
Today
we're
diving
head
first
into
some
fascinating
research
that's
been
making
waves
in
the
endometriosis
community
.
But
before
we
jump
in
,
here's
a
quick
and
crucial
reminder
.
Correlation
does
not
equal
causation
.
Just
because
a
study
finds
a
connection
doesn't
mean
one
thing
is
causing
the
other
.
Think
of
it
like
this
If
you
read
that
people
who
eat
more
chocolate
are
happier
,
does
that
mean
chocolate
makes
you
happy
,
or
are
happy
people
just
reaching
for
the
good
stuff
more
often
?
The
answer
is
not
always
so
straightforward
,
though
I'll
admit
.
Chocolate
probably
helps
.
In
this
episode
,
I'm
breaking
down
some
of
the
most
intriguing
recent
research
articles
to
help
separate
the
facts
from
the
hype
.
We'll
talk
about
what
these
findings
actually
mean
,
how
they
can
impact
your
health
journey
and
why
it's
so
important
to
ask
questions
like
what's
the
bigger
picture
here
?
So
grab
your
favorite
drink
,
settle
in
and
let's
tackle
the
data
,
together
with
a
dose
of
curiosity
,
compassion
and
maybe
just
a
little
fun
.
Let's
talk
about
something
that
doesn't
get
nearly
enough
airtime
and
it's
going
to
be
a
doozy
how
endometriosis
affects
quality
of
life
,
in
this
case
,
the
quality
of
your
sex
life
.
Yes
,
we're
going
there
,
so
grab
a
snack
or
a
glass
of
wine
if
you
need
.
Speaker 1
2:02
A
recent
study
titled
Is
Complete
Excision
Always
Enough
?
A
Quality
of
Sexual
Life
Assessment
in
Patients
with
Deep
Endometriosis
decided
to
take
a
deep
dive
pun
absolutely
intended
into
how
different
surgical
approaches
for
removing
rectovaginal
endometriosis
nodules
can
affect
the
bedroom
of
116
patients
over
three
years
.
What
did
they
find
?
Well
,
the
results
are
about
as
subtle
as
a
giant
neon
sign
saying
excise
everything
.
Here's
a
scoop
.
The
study
looked
at
two
groups
.
Group
A
had
surgeons
who
took
their
job
seriously
and
completely
removed
all
the
disease
Team
full
excision
.
Group
B
had
surgeons
who
,
for
whatever
reason
,
left
some
lesions
behind
Team
incomplete
removal
.
And
here's
the
thing
Group
A
walked
away
with
far
better
outcomes
.
Those
who
had
complete
excision
experienced
significantly
improved
sexual
quality
of
life
.
That's
code
for
less
pain
during
sex
and
an
added
bonus
less
pain
during
periods
and
other
moments
where
endo
likes
to
rare
its
ugly
head
.
Meanwhile
,
group
B's
results
were
more
like
yeah
,
still
kind
of
painful
,
not
the
vibe
anyone's
looking
for
.
Speaker 1
3:20
Now
here's
where
it
gets
interesting
,
and
by
interesting
I
mean
infuriating
.
This
study
highlights
that
incomplete
removal
just
doesn't
cut
it
.
Literally
and
figuratively
.
It
leaves
patients
hanging
stuck
with
lingering
pain
and
lower
quality
of
life
improvements
.
So
if
you're
wondering
if
your
endometriosis
surgeon's
approach
matters
,
the
answer
is
a
resounding
yes
.
What's
also
wild
is
that
studies
like
this
are
rare
.
Speaker 1
3:46
The
link
between
endotreatment
and
sexual
functioning
hasn't
been
studied
enough
,
which
is
crazy
because
newsflash
.
Your
sex
life
and
your
overall
quality
of
life
are
hugely
connected
.
If
you're
in
pain
every
time
you
even
think
about
intimacy
,
it's
going
to
ripple
out
into
other
areas
of
your
health
and
happiness
.
What's
the
takeaway
here
?
It's
simple
Complete
excision
is
the
gold
standard
,
the
headliner
,
the
Taylor
Swift
of
endometriosis
surgery
and
when
it
comes
to
improving
both
the
pain
and
pleasure
spectrum
of
life
,
settling
for
less
just
doesn't
cut
it
.
Pun
again
intended
.
So
if
you're
navigating
the
tricky
waters
of
endocare
,
this
study
is
your
friendly
reminder
to
advocate
for
yourself
and
aim
for
surgeons
who
don't
just
shave
the
surface
but
tackle
the
disease
head
on
,
because
everyone
deserves
a
pain-free
life
and
,
yes
,
a
good
sex
life
too
.
Speaker 1
4:42
When
it
comes
to
endometriosis
,
the
struggle
is
real
,
like
curl
up
in
a
blanket
burrito
and
refuse
to
move
real
.
But
here's
some
encouraging
news
hot
off
the
research
press
.
A
recent
study
published
just
this
month
titled
Evaluating
Quality
of
Life
Improvements
in
Endometriosis
Patients
Following
Laparoscopic
Surgery
,
using
EHP30
Scale
,
tackled
a
big
question
Can
laparoscopic
surgery
actually
help
improve
the
quality
of
life
for
endo
warriors
?
The
answer
is
yes
.
But
let's
dive
into
the
juicy
details
.
The
researchers
behind
the
study
went
full
detective
mode
,
enrolling
70
endometriosis
patients
to
see
how
their
lives
changed
before
and
after
laparoscopic
surgery
.
But
they
didn't
just
ask
vague
questions
like
how
do
you
feel
?
No
,
they
got
fancy
with
it
using
a
tool
called
Endometriosis
Health
Profile
30
Questionnaire
,
aka
EHP-30
.
Think
of
it
as
a
report
card
for
your
quality
of
life
,
but
with
less
math
and
more
emotional
vibes
.
Speaker 1
5:48
Before
surgery
,
these
patients
were
dealing
with
everything
endometriosis
throws
at
you
stabbing
pain
,
mood
swings
that
could
rival
soap
opera
plots
and
the
energy
levels
of
a
phone
stuck
at
1%
.
Fast
forward
three
months
post-surgery
and
the
results
were
chef's
kiss
.
Months
post-surgery
,
and
the
results
were
chef's
kiss
.
The
EHP30
scores
showed
major
improvements
in
pain
levels
,
emotional
health
and
daily
life
.
Pain
less
stabby
,
emotions
,
more
steady
Daily
life
,
a
little
less
like
a
constant
battle
.
Now
is
three
months
a
long
time
?
Not
really
.
It's
like
binge
watching
a
couple
shows
on
Netflix
Okay
,
maybe
like
several
seasons
,
but
for
these
patients
,
even
that
short-term
relief
was
life-changing
.
Speaker 1
6:35
Here's
where
it
gets
real
.
Endometriosis
doesn't
just
mess
with
your
insides
,
it
messes
with
your
entire
existence
.
Pain
,
fatigue
and
emotional
distress
can
make
everyday
tasks
feel
huge
.
So
the
fact
that
laparoscopic
surgery
can
significantly
improve
physical
,
emotional
and
even
social
well-being
is
a
big
deal
.
It's
not
just
about
removing
lesions
.
It's
about
giving
patients
a
shot
at
living
,
not
just
surviving
.
Okay
,
okay
,
before
you
start
booking
surgeries
,
let's
pump
the
brakes
.
Speaker 1
7:07
This
study
had
a
pretty
small
sample
size
70
people
and
the
follow-up
period
was
just
three
months
,
not
exactly
a
lifetime
.
Plus
.
The
surgery's
success
heavily
depends
on
the
skill
of
the
surgeon
.
You
don't
want
someone
who
learned
laparoscopic
techniques
on
YouTube
.
You
need
a
seasoned
expert
with
precision
and
care
.
Speaker 1
7:29
This
study
is
like
a
shiny
beacon
of
hope
for
anyone
dealing
with
endo
.
It
confirms
what
many
patients
already
know
Laparoscopic
surgery
,
when
done
by
a
skilled
professional
,
can
make
a
real
difference
in
managing
the
beast
that
is
endometriosis
.
Sure
,
it's
not
a
cure-all
and
the
journey
doesn't
end
there
,
but
it's
a
solid
step
toward
reclaiming
your
life
.
So
if
you've
been
considering
surgery
or
just
looking
for
a
glimmer
of
hope
,
know
that
there
are
options
out
there
.
And
hey
,
with
tools
like
the
EHP30
,
researchers
are
making
sure
that
your
pain
isn't
just
heard
,
it's
measured
,
tracked
and
tackled
.
Now
,
that's
what
I
call
progress
.
And
remember
,
life
after
laparoscopic
surgery
might
not
be
perfect
,
but
it
could
be
a
whole
lot
better
than
life
before
.
Plus
,
fewer
blanket
burrito
days
mean
more
time
for
,
well
,
literally
everything
else
.
Speaker 1
8:24
All
right
,
friends
,
let's
dive
into
another
hot
endotopic
fertility
.
Yes
,
we're
talking
about
one
of
the
big
messy
emotional
elephants
in
the
room
for
people
with
endometriosis
.
There's
good
news
and
bad
news
,
but
let's
start
with
the
glass
half
full
stuff
.
In
a
study
out
of
Frankfurt
University
Hospital
titled
Laparoscopic
Endometriosis
Surgery
in
Patients
with
Infertility
Identifying
Surgical
and
Non-Surgical
Variables
Affecting
Prospective
Pregnancy
Long-Term
Follow-Up
in
University
Endometriosis
Care
analyzed
a
decade's
worth
of
patient's
data
,
that's
695
people
.
Speaker 1
9:04
In
case
you
were
curious
to
figure
out
what
helps
endometriosis
patients
improve
their
chances
of
having
a
baby
,
post-surgery
and
results
let's
just
say
excision
surgery
continues
to
be
the
Taylor
Swift
of
endometriosis
treatment
.
Here's
the
deal
the
researchers
found
that
complete
excision
of
endometriosis
lesions
doesn't
just
improve
fertility
,
it
also
reduces
reoccurrence
rates
and
improves
overall
quality
of
life
.
So
if
you're
trying
to
conceive
,
clearing
out
all
the
endo
can
make
a
huge
,
real
difference
.
That's
the
good
news
.
Now
for
the
but
,
because
there's
always
a
but
with
endo
,
isn't
there
?
Speaker 1
9:45
Adhesions
and
repeat
surgeries
can
lower
the
odds
of
getting
pregnant
after
surgery
.
In
fact
,
they
emphasize
that
the
key
to
success
is
a
one
and
done
approach
Complete
resection
the
first
time
around
,
with
minimal
complications
or
unnecessary
repeat
surgeries
.
Think
of
it
like
baking
a
souffle
One
good
attempt
is
better
than
a
bunch
of
half-baked
ones
that
collapse
.
The
study
also
highlights
another
critical
point
Timing
is
everything
.
They
recommend
laparoscopic
surgery
as
early
as
possible
for
patients
dealing
with
infertility
and
endo
.
The
earlier
the
intervention
,
the
better
the
chance
to
catch
and
treat
those
lesions
before
they
wreak
even
more
havoc
.
But
and
it's
a
big
but
surgeons
need
to
do
it
right
the
first
time
.
Incomplete
removal
just
sets
you
up
for
more
complications
,
potential
repeat
surgeries
and
a
lot
of
frustration
.
In
short
,
this
study
is
another
resounding
vote
for
excision
surgery
being
the
MVP
of
endometriosis
care
.
Speaker 1
10:50
It's
not
just
about
pain
relief
.
It's
about
tackling
the
disease
in
a
way
that
sets
patients
up
for
long-term
success
,
whether
that's
getting
pregnant
or
just
living
with
less
endo-related
chaos
.
So
if
fertility
is
part
of
your
endo
journey
,
consider
this
study
your
friendly
reminder
to
advocate
for
top-notch
care
.
Aim
for
a
surgeon
who
knows
how
to
excise
completely
and
avoid
repeat
interventions
like
the
plague
or
,
in
this
case
,
like
adhesions
.
Because
let's
be
real
,
when
it
comes
to
endometriosis
,
nobody's
got
time
for
half
measures
.
Speaker 1
11:26
Now
let's
talk
about
something
that
gets
a
lot
of
eye
rolls
and
rightly
so
in
the
endometriosis
community
how
long
it
takes
to
get
a
diagnosis
Spoiler
alert
.
The
news
isn't
exactly
heartwarming
.
Despite
all
the
buzz
about
better
awareness
,
improved
care
guidelines
and
hashtags
like
hashtag
endo-awareness
,
the
average
delay
in
diagnosing
endometriosis
is
still
hovering
around
a
decade
.
That's
10
years
of
symptoms
being
brushed
off
,
misdiagnosed
or
,
straight
up
,
ignored
.
Imagine
trying
to
get
tech
support
for
a
broken
phone
and
being
told
to
just
restart
it
for
an
entire
decade
.
It's
that
kind
of
frustration
,
times
1,000
.
Speaker 1
12:10
A
recent
systematic
review
titled
Time
to
Diagnose
Endometriosis
Current
State
Challenges
and
Regional
Characteristics
,
a
systematic
literature
review
,
dug
into
this
very
topic
by
analyzing
17
observational
studies
published
since
2018
.
They
found
that
,
depending
on
where
you
live
,
your
symptoms
and
how
researchers
define
time
to
diagnosis
,
the
delay
ranged
from
as
little
as
0.3
years
yes
,
someone
got
lucky
to
a
whopping
12
years
.
Ouch
,
why
the
holdup
?
The
study
pointed
fingers
largely
at
you
guessed
it
physicians
.
Not
necessarily
out
of
malice
,
but
because
endosymptoms
are
sneaky
and
often
dismissed
as
just
bad
periods
.
Add
in
a
lack
of
standardized
diagnostic
criteria
,
varying
levels
of
awareness
and
systemic
issues
in
healthcare
and
you've
got
a
perfect
storm
for
delayed
care
.
The
authors
of
the
review
had
a
clear
message
this
isn't
good
enough
.
They
called
for
better
awareness
campaigns
,
more
standardized
definitions
of
diagnostic
timelines
and
targeted
efforts
to
close
the
gap
between
symptom
onset
and
actual
diagnosis
.
Because
,
let's
be
honest
,
nobody
should
have
to
endure
years
of
pain
,
fatigue
and
confusion
just
to
finally
hear
oh
,
it's
endometriosis
.
So
what's
the
takeaway
?
If
you're
still
fighting
to
get
answers
,
you're
not
alone
and
this
delay
isn't
your
fault
.
And
for
those
in
healthcare
,
it's
time
to
do
better
.
Patients
deserve
to
have
their
symptoms
taken
seriously
and
investigated
thoroughly
,
without
a
decade-long
guessing
game
.
Because
here's
the
thing
early
diagnosis
isn't
just
a
nice
to
have
.
It's
essential
for
better
outcomes
,
whether
it's
managing
pain
,
preserving
fertility
or
just
having
a
higher
quality
of
life
.
So
here's
to
hoping
we
can
move
the
average
timeline
from
a
decade
to
ASAP
.
All
right
,
we're
going
to
look
at
our
last
study
.
Speaker 1
14:20
Let's
talk
about
bladder
pain
.
Yes
,
that
often
overlooked
,
too
often
misunderstood
pelvic
pain
puzzle
piece
that
so
many
of
us
in
the
Indo
community
have
bumped
into
.
And
guess
what
?
It
just
got
a
brand
new
name
In
a
change
spearheaded
by
the
American
Urogynecologic
Society
and
the
International
Urogynecologic
Association
.
Try
saying
that
fast
three
times
.
Speaker 1
14:45
The
condition
,
formerly
known
as
interstitial
cystitis
,
bladder
pain
syndrome
,
is
now
officially
called
female
bladder
pain
syndrome
or
FBPS
.
Why
the
rebrand
,
you
ask
?
Well
,
the
old
terminology
wasn't
exactly
a
beacon
of
clarity
.
Icbps
often
left
patients
and
doctors
alike
scratching
their
heads
.
What
even
is
this
condition
,
and
how
is
it
different
from
every
other
type
of
pelvic
pain
?
The
new
term
,
fbps
,
is
meant
to
sharpen
the
focus
.
It
highlights
the
condition's
unique
characteristics
in
women
and
those
assigned
female
at
birth
,
paving
the
way
for
clearer
diagnosis
and
more
tailored
clinical
care
.
Speaker 1
15:31
Here's
the
lowdown
on
FBPS
.
It's
a
chronic
condition
marked
by
bladder
pain
or
discomfort
lasting
at
least
three
months
.
The
kicker
it
often
gets
worse
when
the
bladder
fills
and
its
symptoms
mimic
those
of
other
pelvic
conditions
like
endometriosis
and
pelvic
floor
dysfunction
.
To
make
things
even
trickier
,
fbps
likes
to
team
up
with
other
pain
syndromes
.
Think
pelvic
pain's
answer
to
troublemaking
sidekick
.
Speaker 1
16:00
Diagnosing
this
condition
is
like
finding
a
needle
in
a
haystack
.
Because
of
symptom
overlap
with
other
pelvic
conditions
,
it's
often
dismissed
,
misdiagnosed
or
lumped
into
an
unknown
pain
category
.
That
leaves
patients
feeling
stuck
.
But
the
experts
hope
that
renaming
it
FBPS
or
female
bladder
pain
syndrome
,
and
emphasizing
its
distinct
features
,
they
can
better
equip
healthcare
providers
to
identify
and
treat
it
.
So
what
does
this
mean
for
you
If
you're
someone
dealing
with
bladder
pain
and
it's
been
shrugged
off
or
blamed
on
?
Just
stress
?
This
change
is
a
step
in
the
right
direction
.
It's
a
push
toward
more
precise
language
,
better
research
and
fingers
crossed
more
effective
treatment
options
down
the
line
.
Fbps
is
here
to
give
this
bladder
pain
condition
a
clearer
identity
and
,
hopefully
,
some
much
needed
attention
in
the
medical
world
,
because
,
let's
be
real
,
nobody's
bladder
deserves
to
be
misunderstood
for
this
long
.
Speaker 1
17:02
I
love
that
we're
seeing
more
research
coming
out
and
people
talking
more
about
varying
facets
of
endometriosis
.
I
hope
you're
walking
away
with
a
better
understanding
of
how
to
look
at
research
critically
and
feel
empowered
to
ask
the
right
questions
on
your
health
journey
.
Remember
,
it's
not
about
having
all
the
answers
.
It's
about
staying
curious
and
informed
.
If
you
found
today's
breakdown
helpful
,
I'd
love
for
you
to
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episode
with
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who
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it
.
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know
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.
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,
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?
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.
Until
next
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,
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,
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questioning
and
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advocating
for
yourself
and
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others
.