Endo Battery Fast Charged: EP 7 LGBTQ+ Part 2

Expanding Perspectives on Endometriosis

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
.

Fabulous

listeners
,

this

month

is

Pride

Month

and

a

perfect

time

to

look

at

and

highlight

the

challenges

the

LBGTQ

plus

community

faces

with

endometriosis
.

If

you

missed

our

last

episode
,

I

highly

recommend

you

check

it

out
.

You

won't

want

to

miss

a

thing
.

Today
,

we're

continuing

our

journey

into

the

fascinating

world

of

endometriosis

research
,

especially

as

it

relates

to

the

care

and

healthcare

of

those

in

the

LGBTQ

plus

community
.

Not

only

are

we

shining

a

light

on

this

community
,

but

we're

also

diving

into

some

intriguing

research

that

could

change

how

we

define

and

treat

endometriosis
.

Now
,

before

we

get

carried

away
,

let's

remember

that

correlation

does

not

equal

causation
.

These

studies

are

like

fun

cousins

at

a

family

gathering
,

not

the

serious

parents
.

They're

here

to

inspire

and

empower

us

to

push

for

inclusive

change
,

but

don't

go

jumping

into

conclusions

just

yet
.

So

grab

your

glitter

and

let's

get

into

it
.

This

first

highlighted

study

brings

a

lot

to

the

surface

when

it

comes

to

endometriosis

and

research
.

Speaker 1
1:38

Professor

Kara

Jones

from

California

State

University's

Department

of

Women's

and

Gender

Studies

is

a

leading

voice

in

feminist

disability

research
,

particularly

known

for

her

work

on

cultural

narratives

surrounding

endometriosis
.

In

her

acclaimed

study

Queering

Gender

Disabilities
,

published

in

the

Journal

of

Lesbian

Studies

in

2021
,

jones

tackles

the

stubborn

myth

that

endometriosis

is

primarily

a

reproductive

disease
,

a

narrative

that

has

persisted

in

medical

literature

for

nearly

a

century
.

Jones

points

out

that

this

outdated

perspective

not

only

overlooks

the

many

cisgender

men
,

transgender

and

gender

non-confirming

individuals

who

suffer

from

endometriosis
,

but

also

perpetuates

harmful

treatment

approaches
.

The

focus

on

reproduction

has

led

to

interventions

with

high

failure

rates
,

causing

further

suffering
,

especially

among

LGBTQ

plus

populations
.

It's

a

bit

like

trying

to

fix

a

car's

engine

when

the

problem

is

actually

the

tires

You're

bound

to

miss

the

mark

and

make

things

worse
.

In

her

study
,

jones

argues

for

a

more

gender

neutral

approach

to

discussing

and

treating

endometriosis
.

She

emphasizes

the

need

for

inclusive

language

and

practices

that

recognize

the

diverse

experiences

of

all

people

affected

by

this

condition
.

By

moving

away

from

the

narrow
,

reproductive-focused

narrative
,

we

can

develop

better
,

more

effective

treatments

that

truly

address

the

need

of

everyone

with

endometriosis
.

So

next

time

someone

mentions

endometriosis
,

remember

that

it's

not

just

a

women's

issue
.

Thanks

to

researchers

like

Professor

Jones
,

we're

starting

to

see

the

bigger

picture

and

push

for

change

that

can

make

a

real

difference

for

everyone

dealing

with

this

painful

disease
.

After

all
,

good

science

and

compassionate

health
.

As

we

go

through

this

next

case

report
,

I

want

to

remind

you

that

I

am

not

a

medical

professional

and

I

didn't

take

six

additional

years

to

learn

how

to

pronounce

these

medical

terms

correctly
.

So

bear

with

me

as

we

continue

to

walk

through

this
.

Speaker 1
3:30

But

in

this

next

fascinating

case

study

titled

Hermetospermia

in

Transgender

Women

with

Evidence

of

Endometrial

Tissue

in

the

Prostate
,

researchers

described

an

unusual

medical

finding

in

a

35-year-old

transgender

woman

being

treated

for

hematospermia
,

a

condition

characterized

by

the

presence

of

blood

in

the

seminal

ejaculate
.

During

the

investigation
,

benign

prosthetic

tissue

containing

a

small

focus

of

malarian

and

endometrial

type

tissue

was

discovered
.

This

intriguing

case

has

significant

implications

for

our

understanding

of

endometriosis
,

particularly

regarding

its

origins

and

the

mechanisms

behind

its

development
.

The

authors

of

this

study
,

published

in

AACE

Clinical

Case

Reports
,

asserts

that

this

finding

provides

strong

evidence

against

the

wildly

discussed

theory

that

retrograde

transport

of

menstrual

tissue

is

a

primary

case

of

endometriosis

in

cisgender

women
.

According

to

the

retrograde

menstruation

theory
,

menstrual

blood

flows

backwards

through

the

fallopian

tubes

into

the

pelvic

cavity
,

leading

to

the

implantation

and

growth

of

endometrial

tissue

outside

the

uterus
.

However
,

the

presence

of

endometrial-type

tissue

in

the

prostate

of

transgender

women

who

has

never

menstruated

challenges

this

notion
.

Instead
,

the

researchers

suggest

that

this

case

supports

the

induction

theory

of

endometriosis
.

Speaker 1
4:51

The

induction

theory

posets

endometrial

tissue

can

develop

from

undifferentiated

cells

located

outside

the

uterus
,

influenced

by

various

factors

such

as

hormones

or

inflammation
.

In

this

particular

case
,

the

endometrial

tissue

in

its

prostate

likely

originated

from

such

precursor

cells
,

which

were

then

induced

to

differentiate

into

endometrial-like

tissue
.

This

aligns

with

the

idea

that

endometriosis

can

occur

in

individuals

regardless

of

their

menstruation

history
,

pointing

to

a

more

complex

intrinsic

mechanism

of

disease

development
.

This

study

not

only

highlights

the

complexities

of

endometriosis
,

but

it

also

underscores

the

importance

of

considering

diverse

patient

populations

when

studying

disease

mechanisms
.

The

findings

from

this

case

report

may

encourage

researchers

and

clinicians

to

reevaluate

traditional

understanding

of

endometriosis

and

explore

alternative

explanations

that

could

lead

to

more

effective

treatments

and

management

strategies

as

we

continue

to

uncover

multifaceted

nature

of

this

condition
.

The

hope

is

that

such

insights

will

ultimately

improve

patient

care

and

outcome

across

different

populations
.

Speaker 1
6:00

The

discovery

of

endometrial

tissue

in

the

prostate

of

transgender

women

being

treated

for

hematospermia

provides

compelling

evidence

supporting

the

induction

theory

of

endometriosis
.

This

challenges

the

retrograde

menstruation

hypothesis

and

opens

new

avenues

for

understanding

and

addressing

this

complex

condition
.

The

study

serves

as

a

reminder

of

the

importance

of

inclusive

research

and

the

need

to

broaden

our

perspectives

on

disease

mechanisms
.

In

an

older
,

smaller

study

called

Dysmenorrhea

and

Endometriosis

in

Transgender

Adolescents
,

the

authors

discovered

that

7

out

of

35

transmasculine

individuals

in

their

study

population

had

endometriosis
.

Their

findings

highlight

a

critical

issue

the

evaluation

of

endometriosis

is

often

underutilized

in

transmasculine

individuals

who

experience

dysmenorrhea
.

The

team

emphasized

that

while

some

symptoms

of

endometriosis

can

be

alleviated

with

testosterone

treatment
,

it

remains

critical

to

consider

the

disease

in

trans

patients

presenting

with

symptoms

irrespectable

of

their

testosterone

use
.

Speaker 1
7:01

The

study

underscores

the

need

for

heightened

awareness

and

proactive

evaluation

of

endometriosis

in

transgender

adolescents
.

It

seems

that

endometriosis

doesn't

discriminate

based

on

gender

identity
,

and

the

chronic

pain

it

inflicts

deserves

attention

and

care
.

Gender

adolescents

it

seems

that

endometriosis

doesn't

discriminate

based

on

gender

identity
,

and

the

chronic

pain

it

inflicts

deserves

attention

and

care
.

So

here's

the

takeaway

Whether

you're

dealing

with

teens

or

adults
,

the

message

is

clear

Don't

overlook

endometriosis

in

transmasculine

patients
.

It's

easy

to

assume

that

testosterone

will

wave

a

magic

wand

and

make

all

the

symptoms

disappear
,

but

reality

begs

to

differ
.

If

someone's

reporting

pain
,

it's

time

to

dig

deeper
,

regardless

of

their

hormone

therapy

status
.

Speaker 1
7:36

The

study

emphasizes

the

need

to

converge

on

a

compassionate

call

to

action
.

Transmasculine

individuals

deserve

comprehensive

healthcare

that

doesn't

brush

off

their

pain
.

By

staying

vigilant

and

considering

endometriosis

in

patients

with

dysmenorrhea
,

we

can

offer

them

the

care

they

need

and

deserve
.

Plus
,

who

wouldn't

want

to

be

known

for

practicing

medicine

with

both

heart

and

knowledge

on

inclusive

care
?

In

this

last

study
,

it

highlights

that

endometriosis

is

often

thought

of

as

a

condition

that

affects

only

cisgender

women
,

but

this

view

is

increasingly

being

challenged
.

The

research

article

titled

Endometriosis

in

Transgender

Men

Recognizing

the

Missing

Pieces

highlights

that

endometriosis

is

a

significant

issue

for

transgender

men

as

well
.

Unfortunately
,

awareness

about

endometriosis

in

transgender

men

is

still

lacking
,

which

can

delay

diagnosis

and

treatment
,

exacerbating

the

problem
.

Speaker 1
8:28

This

2023

overview

emphasized

the

broader

disparities

in

endometriosis

care
.

They

pointed

out

that

people

of

color
,

transgender

and

non-binary

individuals
,

those

from

socioeconomical

disadvantaged

backgrounds

and

adolescents

face

significant

hurdles

in

getting

diagnosed

and

treated
.

The

gap

in

awareness

among

healthcare

providers

and

policymakers

is

particularly

troubling
.

If

endometriosis

goes

undiagnosed

or

is

inadequately

treated
,

it

can

lead

to

severe

consequences

like

chronic

pain
,

infertility
,

depression

and

a

drastically

reduced

quality

of

life
.

In

essence
,

we

need

to

shift

our

understanding

of

endometriosis

from

a

niche

women's

health

issue

to

a

broader
,

more

inclusive

healthcare

concern
.

Redefining Endometriosis

Speaker 1
9:10

As

precision

medicine

advances
,

recognizing

and

addressing

the

unique

needs

of

individuals

affected

by

endometriosis

is

crucial
.

This

means

better

education

for

healthcare

providers
,

more

inclusive

research

and

policies

that

ensure

equitable

access

to

care

for

everyone
,

regardless

of

their

gender

identity
,

race

or

socioeconomic

status
.

In

conclusion
,

it's

time

to

update

our

perspective

on

endometriosis
.

It's

not

just

a

women's

disease
.

It's

a

human

disease

that

can

impact

anyone
.

By

broadening

our

understanding

and

improving

our

approach

to

diagnosis

and

treatment
,

we

can

significantly

enhance

the

quality

of

life

for

all

those

affected
.

Thank

you

for

joining

me

this

week
,

and

I

encourage

you

to

continue

looking

into

the

disparities

in

which

many

face

when

it

comes

to

endometriosis

diagnosis

and

care
,

because

if

we

understand

it
,

then

we

can

advocate

better

and

we

can

continue

advocating

for

the

change

that

needs

to

take

place

to

accelerate

diagnosis
,

care

and

treatment
.

Until

next

time
,

continue

advocating

for

you

and

for

those

that

you

love
.