Send us a text with a question or thought on this episode ( We cannot replay from this link)
Ever wondered how endometriosis impacts not just personal lives but also the workplace and broader economy? Join us on Endobattery Fast Charged as we unpack the hidden toll this condition takes on productivity, both at home and on the job. Discover shocking studies that reveal how endometriosis-related absenteeism and presenteeism lead to lost productivity and heightened stress.
Disability from endometriosis in the United States Army. J Reprod Med. 1988 Jan;33(1):49-52.
Endometriosis Is Undervalued: A Call to Action. Front Glob Womens Health. 2022 May 10;3:902371
Health needs of women with disabilities across the lifespan
Physicians’ Perceptions Of People With Disability And Their Health Care
Website endobattery.com
The Impact of Endometriosis on Productivity
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
Endobattery
Fast
Charged
charging
and
empowering
your
life
with
knowledge
.
Welcome
back
to
Endobattery
Fast
Charged
.
We're
diving
deep
into
the
research
on
how
endometriosis
wrecks
havoc
on
those
affected
by
it
in
their
daily
lives
.
And
hey
,
let's
not
forget
the
bizarre
fact
that
not
recognizing
it
as
a
disability
can
turn
anyone's
world
upside
down
.
We'll
also
take
a
peek
into
the
challenges
faced
by
our
physically
diverse
pals
.
As
a
friendly
reminder
,
though
,
correlation
does
not
always
equal
causation
,
so
grab
your
cup
of
coffee
and
get
ready
to
have
your
eyes
opened
as
we
explore
these
insights
.
Let's
get
started
.
The
first
study
that
we're
gonna
take
a
look
at
is
titled
the
Effect
of
Endometriosis
Symptoms
on
Absenteeism
and
Presenteeism
in
the
Workplace
and
at
Home
.
This
study
highlights
that
endometriosis
isn't
just
about
cramps
and
discomfort
.
It
can
also
seriously
mess
with
your
daily
life
and
work
.
Imagine
or
maybe
you
don't
have
to
imagine
this
that
you're
trying
to
get
through
your
workday
,
but
endometriosis
is
making
everything
feel
like
a
Herculean
task
.
According
to
this
study
,
there's
a
strong
link
between
endometriosis
symptoms
and
reduced
productivity
,
both
at
work
and
home
.
Those
with
endometriosis
end
up
losing
more
days
to
disability
,
with
some
pretty
eye-opening
numbers
recorded
.
On
average
,
people
with
endometriosis
lose
5.3
hours
a
week
to
employment
presenteeism
.
Presenteeism
means
that
you're
at
work
but
you're
so
out
of
it
that
your
productivity
is
in
the
gutter
.
Add
to
that
the
1.1
hours
of
straight-up
absenteeism
,
which
is
where
you
can't
even
make
it
to
work
.
And
it's
not
just
work
that
suffers
Household
chores
take
a
hit
too
.
The
study
also
showed
that
there
is
a
2.3
hours
of
household
presenteeism
and
2.5
hours
of
household
absenteeism
per
week
.
Things
get
even
tougher
as
symptoms
get
worse
.
If
you
have
three
or
more
symptoms
at
the
same
time
,
you're
in
for
a
world
of
hurt
,
literally
and
figuratively
.
Those
dealing
with
multiple
symptoms
lose
a
lot
more
hours
to
both
presenteeism
and
absenteeism
compared
to
those
with
just
one
or
two
symptoms
.
So
endometriosis
isn't
just
a
personal
health
issue
.
It's
a
productivity
thief
at
work
and
at
home
,
which
is
further
emphasized
in
this
next
publication
titled
Endometriosis
at
the
Workplace
Lessons
from
Australia's
Response
to
COVID-19
,
which
brings
to
light
that
endometriosis
is
no
joke
,
especially
when
it
comes
to
juggling
a
career
.
Speaker 1
2:58
This
recent
Australian
study
highlights
that
more
than
half
of
those
with
endometriosis
face
workplace
challenges
due
to
their
symptoms
.
Imagine
trying
to
focus
on
meetings
while
dealing
with
excruciating
pain
.
It's
like
trying
to
solve
a
Rubik's
cube
blindfolded
.
Reduced
hours
become
a
necessity
rather
than
a
choice
,
and
they
navigate
their
health
alongside
their
professional
responsibilities
.
But
it
gets
trickier
.
Over
one
in
10
individuals
with
endometriosis
reported
losing
their
jobs
because
of
the
disease
.
Picture
this
You're
an
ace
employee
,
but
endometriosis
has
a
knack
for
showing
up
uninvited
,
causing
missed
days
and
dwindling
productivity
.
Suddenly
,
you're
not
just
battling
a
chronic
condition
,
you're
also
dealing
with
job
insecurity
.
It's
a
harsh
reality
that
adds
another
layer
of
stress
to
an
already
challenging
situation
.
Interestingly
,
though
,
this
study
suggests
that
the
pandemic
has
inadvertently
shown
a
light
on
these
issues
.
With
remote
work
becoming
more
common
,
there's
a
glimmer
of
hope
that
flexible
working
conditions
might
offer
some
relief
.
If
only
we
could
convince
all
employers
that
productivity
isn't
all
about
where
you
work
,
but
how
well
you
can
work
when
you're
feeling
your
best
.
So
here's
to
hoping
that
,
with
this
,
newfound
awareness
leads
to
more
compassionate
and
accommodating
workplaces
for
everyone
battling
endometriosis
.
But
what
if
you
have
a
job
or
a
career
that
you
can't
work
from
home
?
Speaker 1
4:23
This
next
article
,
titled
Disability
from
Endometriosis
in
the
United
States
Army
,
takes
us
on
a
stroll
down
memory
lane
.
In
its
1988
publication
,
researchers
dug
through
the
medical
record
of
6,456
women
in
the
US
Army
.
They
looked
at
various
factors
like
age
,
race
and
whether
these
women
were
on
active
duty
.
The
key
focus
was
on
how
many
sick
days
were
racked
up
due
to
endometriosis
.
The
findings
Brace
yourself
.
On
average
,
each
active
duty
patient
with
endometriosis
clocked
in
15
sick
days
per
hospital
admission
,
and
it
didn't
matter
whether
they
were
young
,
old
,
black
,
white
or
green
with
polka
dots
.
15
days
was
the
magic
number
.
Considering
that
6.2%
of
the
female
army
population
had
endometriosis
,
this
study's
author
did
some
quick
math
and
estimated
a
whopping
total
of
21,746
lost
duty
days
.
That's
almost
60
years
of
soldiering
lost
to
this
disease
.
So
imagine
trying
to
run
an
army
with
thousands
of
soldiers
MIA
thanks
to
a
disease
that's
as
sneaky
as
it
is
painful
,
with
a
third
of
your
troops
sidelined
by
an
invisible
enemy
.
Endometriosis
1
,
army
0
.
Speaker 1
5:41
Productivity
is
only
one
element
of
living
this
life
with
our
annoying
counterpart
called
endo
.
Endometriosis
doesn't
just
cause
pain
and
discomfort
.
It
also
affects
the
wallet
.
Adding
insult
to
entry
,
studies
show
that
patients
with
endometriosis
experience
lower
annual
salaries
and
slower
salary
growth
.
They
also
face
higher
risks
of
missing
work
compared
to
their
peers
without
this
disease
.
The
study
titled
Assessment
of
the
Impact
of
Endometriosis
on
Patient's
Salary
Growth
and
Risk
of
Leaving
the
Workplace
,
published
in
Advances
in
Therapy
in
May
of
2020
,
highlights
the
financial
burden
of
this
disease
.
Speaker 1
6:17
It's
not
just
about
managing
symptoms
,
but
also
about
navigating
the
economic
impacts
.
Imagine
battling
chronic
pain
and
then
realizing
it's
going
to
cost
you
your
paycheck
.
This
double
whammy
makes
managing
endometriosis
even
more
challenging
.
Endometriosis
likes
to
hit
us
really
where
it
counts
,
both
in
your
body
and
your
budget
.
In
the
article
titled
,
endometriosis
is
Undervalued
.
A
Call
to
Action
further
explains
the
implications
of
endometriosis
.
Imagine
having
an
uninvited
guest
who
not
only
overstays
their
welcome
but
also
leaves
a
mess
everywhere
they
go
.
That's
endometriosis
for
you
,
wrecking
havoc
on
the
lives
of
many
.
Speaker 1
6:55
Researchers
have
been
studying
this
meddlesome
disease
for
decades
and
one
thing
is
clear
Endometriosis
is
a
master
of
disruption
.
It
doesn't
just
affect
health
.
It
infiltrates
work
,
school
and
home
life
,
causing
people
to
miss
out
on
all
the
fun
and
not-so-fun
activities
.
The
economic
impacts
of
endometriosis
is
like
a
runaway
train
.
On
a
personal
level
,
it
hits
the
wallet
hard
.
Patients
often
find
themselves
shelling
out
their
hard-earned
cash
for
treatments
while
simultaneously
losing
income
due
to
work
disruption
.
It's
a
lose-lose
situation
.
And
if
you
think
it
stops
there
,
think
again
.
The
financial
black
hole
extends
to
the
public
health
realm
,
too
.
In
the
US
alone
,
endometriosis
costs
between
78
billion
and119
billion
annually
.
That's
more
zeros
than
most
of
us
can
count
,
and
Australia
isn't
far
behind
,
with
its
economic
burden
ranging
between
$6.5
billion
and
$7.4
billion
.
Speaker 1
7:54
So
what's
the
takeaway
here
?
Endometriosis
isn't
just
a
personal
health
issue
.
It's
a
public
health
crisis
with
the
price
tag
that
could
buy
a
small
country
.
We
need
to
start
paying
more
attention
to
this
disease
,
not
just
because
it's
the
right
thing
to
do
,
but
because
ignoring
it
costs
us
all
a
fortune
,
and
maybe
,
just
maybe
,
it's
time
to
put
this
uninvited
intruder
in
its
place
.
But
that
isn't
going
to
work
if
we
don't
have
a
complete
picture
,
which
is
what
this
next
research
article
helps
paint
.
In
the
study
titled
Endometriosis
and
Disability
Analysis
of
Federal
Court
Appeals
of
Social
Security
,
disability
Insurance
and
Supplemental
Security
Income
Claims
by
Individuals
Suffering
from
Endometriosis
further
accentuates
that
endometriosis
is
no
picnic
.
Speaker 1
8:40
Many
patients
are
stuck
using
up
all
their
sick
days
,
vacation
days
and
even
taking
unpaid
leave
just
to
manage
the
disease
.
Sure
,
some
can
tap
into
the
Family
Medical
Leave
Act
or
FMLA
for
job-protected
benefits
,
but
it's
unpaid
and
let's
be
real
,
not
everyone
can
even
qualify
for
FMLA
.
If
you
work
for
a
small
business
or
haven't
racked
up
enough
work
history
,
you're
out
of
luck
.
Paid
sick
leave
sounds
like
a
dream
,
offering
job-protected
,
paid
time
off
.
But
here's
the
kicker
not
everyone
gets
that
sweet
deal
.
Eligibility
varies
by
state
,
so
it's
like
playing
a
game
of
will
they
or
won't
they
with
your
paycheck
.
Now
let's
dive
into
the
world
of
Social
Security
Disability
Insurance
or
SSDI
,
and
Supplemental
Security
Income
,
ssi
.
Spoiler
alert
,
it's
a
mess
.
Speaker 1
9:31
Research
shows
that
claims
for
endometriosis-specific
disabilities
are
often
given
the
cold
shoulder
.
The
disease
isn't
even
listed
as
an
official
impairment
,
so
those
suffering
from
it
face
all
sorts
of
roadblocks
misconceptions
about
the
disease
,
tricky
diagnostic
criteria
and
complicated
treatment
plans
that
make
proving
their
case
a
nightmare
.
And
guess
what
?
Many
claims
are
flat
out
denied
,
despite
the
debilitating
nature
of
endometriosis
.
It's
like
trying
to
convince
a
cat
to
take
a
bath
.
Nearly
impossible
and
utterly
exhausting
.
Denied
patients
often
need
to
lawyer
up
just
to
get
through
the
appeals
process
,
adding
even
more
stress
to
their
already
challenging
lives
.
According
to
this
study
,
it's
clear
that
the
system
is
failing
these
individuals
.
The
courts
are
clogged
with
appeals
from
those
who
just
want
some
relief
and
recognition
for
their
disease
.
It's
a
never-ending
cycle
of
frustration
,
paperwork
and
legal
jargon
.
So
if
you
have
someone
with
endometriosis
,
give
them
a
high
five
for
making
it
through
each
day
and
maybe
consider
advocating
for
better
policies
that
don't
treat
them
like
they're
asking
for
a
unicorn
on
a
silver
platter
.
Those
research
articles
highlight
the
fact
that
endometriosis
presents
a
significant
challenge
in
terms
of
both
debilitating
effects
on
daily
life
and
financial
burden
.
However
,
the
situation
becomes
even
more
complex
when
considering
individuals
who
already
contend
with
physical
disabilities
.
Speaker 1
10:57
Recent
studies
delve
into
the
intersectionality
of
these
issues
,
shedding
light
on
how
women
with
disabilities
navigate
the
additional
burdens
of
things
like
endometriosis
.
Moreover
,
these
studies
illuminate
disparities
within
the
healthcare
system
,
revealing
shortcomings
on
how
individuals
with
physical
disabilities
are
perceived
and
treated
,
underscoring
the
urgent
need
for
tailored
healthcare
strategies
that
address
these
intersecting
challenges
effectively
.
The
first
publication
that
looks
into
these
challenges
is
titled
Health
Needs
of
Women
with
Disabilities
Across
the
Lifespan
.
It
addresses
the
unique
health
care
needs
of
women
with
disabilities
,
from
adolescence
to
old
age
.
It
highlights
these
women
who
often
face
barriers
such
as
navigating
attitudes
,
lack
of
information
,
environmental
changes
and
geographical
obstacles
when
assessing
health
care
.
The
authors
argue
the
necessity
for
comprehensive
and
empathetic
health
care
services
to
manage
their
disabilities
and
prevent
additional
health
issues
.
They
also
suggest
various
strategies
to
overcome
these
barriers
and
improve
the
quality
of
care
for
women
with
disabilities
.
But
it's
not
just
about
the
women
with
disabilities
that
face
disparities
in
healthcare
.
This
next
article
looks
at
all
people
with
disabilities
.
Speaker 1
12:09
In
episode
82
of
In
no
Battery
,
chanda
Hinton
talked
about
this
next
study
titled
Physicians'
Perceptions
of
People
with
Disabilities
and
their
Healthcare
.
If
you
haven't
listened
to
that
episode
,
I
strongly
encourage
you
to
do
so
.
However
,
a
bunch
of
researchers
got
curious
about
what
doctors
think
about
treating
people
with
disabilities
.
You
know
those
superheroes
among
us
who
deal
with
extra
challenges
daily
.
They
wanted
to
figure
out
if
doctors
are
doing
a
good
job
or
if
they
needed
a
bit
of
a
nudge
in
the
right
direction
.
Speaker 1
12:39
First
off
,
the
researchers
found
that
many
doctors
felt
like
they
were
in
a
scene
from
a
medical
drama
without
a
script
.
They
admitted
they
didn't
have
enough
training
or
experience
to
treat
patients
with
disabilities
properly
.
Imagine
trying
to
perform
a
complicated
dance
without
knowing
the
steps
.
That's
how
doctors
felt
.
On
the
bright
side
.
Most
doctors
genuinely
wanted
to
help
provide
good
care
,
but
here's
the
kicker
they
often
had
trouble
communicating
with
their
patients
.
It's
like
they
were
trying
to
speak
Klingon
when
someone
only
understands
Elvish
.
The
communication
gap
sometimes
leads
to
misunderstandings
and
less
effective
care
.
Speaker 1
13:16
The
study
also
highlights
that
the
healthcare
system
itself
was
a
bit
of
a
mess
,
to
which
many
of
us
are
not
shocked
by
.
Picture
a
hospital
as
a
giant
,
chaotic
game
of
Tetris
,
where
pieces
don't
quite
fit
together
.
Accessibility
was
a
big
issue
,
not
just
physical
access
,
but
also
access
to
information
and
resources
that
could
help
patients
with
disabilities
.
While
doctors
are
well-meaning
but
slightly
confused
chefs
trying
to
make
a
gourmet
meal
without
its
ingredients
,
they're
eager
to
learn
and
improve
.
The
study
suggests
that
with
better
training
and
a
more
inclusive
healthcare
system
,
doctors
can
become
rock
stars
of
medical
care
for
people
with
disabilities
.
Thanks
for
tuning
in
this
week
.
Speaker 1
13:57
And
in
light
of
the
ongoing
advocacy
by
those
living
with
endometriosis
,
it's
clear
that
recognizing
this
condition
as
eligible
for
formal
workplace
and
school
accommodations
,
as
well
as
federal
disability
,
is
essential
.
The
severe
chronic
pain
associated
with
endometriosis
profoundly
impacts
daily
functioning
,
making
it
challenging
for
individuals
to
work
,
maintain
a
household
and
engage
in
social
activities
.
This
debilitating
pain
often
results
in
reduced
productivity
,
missed
work
days
and
,
in
severe
cases
,
job
termination
.
By
providing
necessary
accommodations
,
we
can
help
individuals
manage
their
symptoms
more
effectively
and
maintain
steady
employment
.
Addressing
endometriosis
as
a
federal
disability
would
not
only
validate
the
experiences
of
those
affected
,
but
also
provide
them
with
essential
support
and
protection
.
This
recognition
would
foster
a
more
inclusive
environment
,
ensuring
that
individuals
receive
the
understanding
and
assistance
they
The Economic Impact of Endometriosis
Speaker 1
14:53
need
to
thrive
.
Speaker 1
14:53
From
a
public
health
perspective
,
the
financial
burden
of
endometriosis
is
staggering
,
with
costs
including
medical
treatments
,
surgeries
,
medications
and
lost
income
due
to
inability
to
work
.
We
can
alleviate
some
of
these
financial
burdens
through
access
to
disability
benefits
and
support
.
This
would
not
only
benefit
individuals
,
but
also
reduce
the
overall
economic
impacts
on
society
.
Ultimately
,
recognizing
endometriosis
as
a
federal
disability
would
bring
much-needed
attention
to
the
disease
,
fostering
greater
research
findings
,
better
treatments
and
more
comprehensive
support
systems
.
Above
all
,
it
would
provide
those
living
with
endometriosis
the
legal
protections
and
accommodations
they
deserve
,
validating
their
experiences
and
empowering
them
to
lead
a
fuller
,
more
productive
life
.
If
you
want
to
read
more
on
these
research
articles
,
go
to
the
description
in
the
podcast
episode
,
and
you
can
find
all
the
links
there
.
Until
next
time
,
continue
advocating
for
equitable
care
for
all
of
endometriosis
patients
.