Celebrating Endometriosis Awareness Month: If I Knew Then What I Know Now

It’s officially March, which means the start of Endometriosis Awareness Month! Whether you have endometriosis yourself or know someone who does, it’s all about helping raise endometriosis awareness. Endometriosis Awareness Day is March 1st, which kicks off National Endometriosis Awareness Month. Now is the perfect opportunity to advocate for yourself and speak about your own experience with others.  

My endo symptoms started at age 12 when I had my first period. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have spent so many years confused, frustrated, and not knowing how to manage it. Spreading endometriosis awareness is crucial, especially knowing how many people are misdiagnosed each year. This happens often because so few providers truly know how to diagnose and treat endometriosis. 

This month, we deserve a celebration for everything we've gone through and how far we've come! As I reflect on the last 21 years of my life experiencing endo symptoms, I want to share what I’ve learned along the way. Let’s support each other on our unique endo journey together!  

Things I Wish I’d Known Sooner About Endometriosis 

To highlight Endometriosis Awareness Month, I want to talk about some of the things that would have made my life easier when I was first diagnosed.  

If you also have endo, your journey might be similar to mine. I did it all—trying to find the right diet or tips on what to do and what to avoid by doing my own research online. Then I saw countless specialists and doctors to address the extreme pain I was experiencing (the gaslighting and lack of support was overwhelming!).  

Here's what I wish someone had told me sooner about living with endo: 

• You don’t have to do everything perfectly when managing your endo. If you continue to get down on yourself when you eat something you shouldn’t have or skip a gym day, this will only stress you out more. Mental stress is a high driver of oxidative stress (which contributes to more DNA and inflammation promoting free radicals).  

• If you’re not feeling well, you don’t have to exercise. Early on in my endo management journey, I took exercising to the extreme, which led to burnout and more aggressive symptoms. It’s all about balance when it comes to your fitness routine with endo.  

• Your feelings about how you manage your endo is what matters most. Find a management plan that works best for you and your symptoms. At the same time, be informed about how your management option can affect your body, and work to counteract those affects naturally. For example, birth control can contribute to slight insulin resistance, so be mindful of how you pair your meals and space them apart for optimal blood sugar balance.   

• It’s okay to speak up to get your way in the healthcare system when you feel you’re not being heard. Never let any doctor or specialist make you think your physical symptoms are all in your head.  

• You deserve to have the best possible care for your endo. Feel empowered to make your own decisions and never think you have an ultimatum or no other options. Always seek out second (or third!) opinions from various providers.  

Although endometriosis causes physical pain and symptoms, your emotional and mental health is also affected. Understand that you’re not alone, and you should always advocate for your health (both physically and mentally!).   

How I’ve Reduced My Endo Pain Over the Years 

Endo warriors know pain, and let me tell you, it’s not an easy battle to overcome.  

Part of endometriosis awareness means making more healthcare professionals take endo pain seriously! I knew this was the first thing I needed to focus on in my own endo journey. What works for some people might not work for others. That’s why trying different things to see what works for your body is so important. 

These are some of the biggest changes I made that brought my endo pain down significantly:  

• I reduced my processed food intake. As a 19-year-old, I was eating fast food as much as three times per week! This meant I wasn’t getting inflammation-fighting high monounsaturated fatty acid olive oil and instead cheap subsidized seed oils (which can promote inflammation when consumed excessively!).  

• I started exercising to support my immune function. By improving your immune function, you can lower your body’s inflammation, which in turn helps to reduce your pain.  

• I added more plant diversity to my meals. The plan that works for me is to have three or more plant-centric meals and one meatless meal a week (often more). This has helped me transition into my anti-inflammatory eating pattern to help reduce pain.   

• I tested my hormones and found out that unstable and DNA-damaging estrogen breakdown products were building up in my body and contributing to my pain.  

• I started taking low-dose naltrexone (LDN) on two separate occasions (the first time in my 20s and the second in my 30s). In my 20s, I didn’t experience much relief, but trying it again in my 30s, I’ve found it to be immensely helpful for my pain! 

As an endometriosis dietitian, I recommend getting your nutrients from food in a way that’s easy, convenient and makes you feel good. However, factors such as stress can increase our nutrient needs and how quickly our bodies use these nutrients. That being said, I'm also a fan of smart supplementation to fill the nutrient gaps in your diet (here are some supplements I recommend for endo.) 

Advocate For Yourself Through Endometriosis Awareness  

This Endometriosis Awareness Month, remind yourself that the more you can advocate for your own health, the better! While endometriosis has no cure with the cause unknown, you can still find answers for your endo. It’s not about being perfect or sticking to restricting diets or intense exercise. What matters most is doing what works best for you and your body, as well as finding a supportive healthcare provider that listens to your needs.  

Knowing what I know now, I’m able to stick to a regimen that helps me reduce my pain and allows me to live a life that’s no longer controlled by endometriosis. Having access to the support and knowledge I needed changed everything for me! That’s why I created The Endo Thrive Society, to help endowarriors like you find the answers they need with a community to turn to.  

Join now for my proven step-by-step program to drastically improve your symptoms of endometriosis. We’re in this together—it’s time to be an active participant in your own care!