Send us a text with a question or thought on this episode ( We cannot replay from this link)
We challenge the myth that teens are “too young” for endometriosis and show how to spot red flags that go far beyond “normal cramps.” Dr. Megan Wasson shares clear signs, family dynamics that normalize pain, and steps to get answers sooner.
• redefining normal: pain as more than an inconvenience
• family patterns that normalize severe period pain
• the pediatrician pitfall: quick dismissal without probing
• functional impact: missed school, sports, and social life
• pain outside bleeding days as a key clue
• GI symptoms that flare around menses
• practical steps: symptom tracking and focused questions
• when to escalate: specialists, imaging, and tailored care
Do you have more questions? Keep them coming. Send them in, and I’ll bring you the expert answers. You can send them in by using the link in the top of the description of this podcast episode or by emailing contact@endobattery.com or visiting the Endobattery.com contact page
Website endobattery.com
Pain Has No Age Limit
SPEAKER_00
0:00
Endometriosis
doesn't
care
how
old
you
are.
Maybe
you're
a
teen
with
symptoms
and
no
one
can
explain.
Let's
be
honest.
Many
have
heard
you're
too
young
for
endometriosis.
In
this
episode,
Dr.
Megan
Wasson,
Chair
of
Medical
and
Surgical
Gynecology
at
the
Mayo
Clinic,
walks
us
through
what
endocreasymptoms
that
are
too
often
dismissed
in
your
reproductive
years.
Dr.
Wasson
brings
clarity,
passion,
and
real
insight
into
the
care
we
all
deserve.
So
grab
your
favorite
drink,
take
a
deep
breath,
and
join
us
because
you
are
not
alone
in
this
fight.
Life
moves
fast,
and
so
should
the
answers
to
your
biggest
questions.
Quick Connect Format & Disclaimer
SPEAKER_00
0:35
Welcome
to
Endo
Batteries
Quick
Connect,
your
direct
line
to
expert
insights.
Short,
powerful,
and
right
to
the
point.
You
send
in
the
questions,
I
bring
in
the
experts,
and
in
just
five
minutes,
you
get
the
knowledge
you
need.
No
long
episodes,
no
extra
time
needed.
And
just
remember,
expert
opinions
shared
here
are
for
general
information
and
not
for
personalized
medical
advice.
Always
consult
your
provider
for
your
case-specific
guidance.
Got
a
question?
Send
it
in,
and
let's
quickly
get
you
the
answers.
I'm
your
host,
Alana,
and
it's
time
to
connect.
Introducing Dr. Megan Wasson
SPEAKER_00
1:13
Today's
guest
is
someone
who
brings
a
deep
expertise,
compassion,
and
innovation
to
the
field
of
gynecology.
Dr.
Megan
Wasson
is
the
chair
of
the
Department
of
Medical
and
Surgical
Gynecology
at
the
Mayo
Clinic
in
Arizona
and
a
professor
of
obstetrics
and
gynecology
at
the
Mayo
Clinic
College
of
Medicine
and
Science.
Her
clinical
focus
includes
endometriosis,
chronic
pelvic
pain,
and
advanced
surgical
techniques.
Dr.
Wasson
is
helping
redefine
what
care
can
look
like
for
patients
around
the
world.
Please
help
me
in
welcoming
Dr.
Megan
Wasson.
What Gets Dismissed as “Normal”
SPEAKER_00
1:45
What
are
some
early
warning
signs
of
endometriosis
in
adolescence
that
often
get
dismissed
as
normal
period
pains?
SPEAKER_01
1:52
Yeah,
so
exactly
what
you
just
said
is
number
one,
that
it's
quote
unquote
normal
period
pain.
That
unfortunately
there's
a
lot
of
generational
trauma
that
can
almost
happen
that
because
we
know
there
is
a
familial
component
to
endometriosis,
that
if
mom
had
endometriosis
and
really,
really
struggled
with
painful
cycles,
and
then
her
daughter
is
now
starting
to
have
cycles
and
really
struggling,
they
don't
know
any
different.
And
so
the
mom
tells
the
daughter,
yeah,
this
is
your
cycle.
This
is
just
what
it
is.
So
there's
that
huge
element
that
can
happen
that
the
family
is
normalizing
it.
When Periods Change Daily Life
SPEAKER_01
2:25
Now,
if
an
individual
goes
and
talks
to
her
doctor,
most
commonly
the
pediatrician
is
who
is
going
to
be
the
first
sounding
board
for
this.
And
they
say,
Yeah,
I'm
having
cramps,
and
the
pediatrician
doesn't
delve
into
it
any
further,
and
they
say,
Well,
yeah,
everyone
has
cramps
with
their
period.
It
gets
dismissed,
and
that's
where
the
cycle
starts
happening.
That
that
patient
may
never
bring
it
up
again
because,
well,
I
told
my
doctor
and
they
said
it
was
normal.
So
yeah,
I
guess
this
is
just
what
it
means
to
be
a
woman
and
what
it
means
to
have
my
cycle.
And
so
that's
where
we
need
to
do
better
very
early.
In
terms
of
specific
symptoms
to
watch
for,
my
best
recommendation
is
always
to
think
about
your
period
just
as
an
inconvenience.
If
someone
is
having
symptoms
with
their
cycle,
that
is
more
than
an
inconvenience,
if
they're
having
to
change
their
activities,
they're
not
able
to
do
their
sports,
they're
not
able
to
dance,
they're
not
able
to
go
to
school,
they're
missing
going
to
the
movies
with
their
friends
because
of
their
menstrual
cycle,
that
is
not
normal.
That
should
absolutely
perk
ears
and
raise
red
flags
that
maybe
something
should
be
investigated
a
little
bit
further.
Pain Beyond Bleeding & GI Clues
SPEAKER_01
3:29
Specifically
for
the
adolescent
population,
we
also
know
that
it's
very
common
to
have
pain
outside
of
the
menstrual
cycle.
So
if
individuals
are
having
pain
not
just
with
bleeding,
but
complaining
about
pelvic
cramping,
discomfort,
even
outside
of
that
time
frame,
that
should
also
heighten
our
suspicion.
There
can
also
be
a
lot
of
the
weird
vague
symptoms
that
can
carry
on
truly
throughout
life.
So
nausea,
diarrhea
with
the
menstrual
cycle.
So
anything
along
those
lines
should
at
least
elevate
the
suspicion
that
endometriosis
is
a
possibility.
Wrap-Up & How to Send Questions
SPEAKER_00
4:02
That's
a
wrap
for
this
quick
connect.
I
hope
today's
insights
helped
you
move
forward
with
more
clarity
and
confidence.
Do
you
have
more
questions?
Keep
them
coming.
Send
them
in,
and
I'll
bring
you
the
expert
answers.
You
can
send
them
in
by
using
the
link
in
the
top
of
the
description
of
this
podcast
episode
or
by
emailing
contact
at
indobattery.com
or
visiting
the
Indobattery.com
contact
page.
Until
next
time,
keep
feeling
empowered
through
knowledge.