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Take this endometriosis symptom quiz.SpeakENDO.com is your go-to resource for endometriosis
Get tips on how to fully express your symptoms, learn to advocate for your own care, and hear from others who've been there.
Discover the inner workings of endometriosis
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Endometriosis
The inner workings
Voiceover:
For the estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age who have endometriosis, the pain can be debilitating and very hard to explain.
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Painful periods
Pelvic pain in between periods
Pain with sex
Voiceover:
If you have painful periods, pelvic pain in between periods, or pain with sex, or if you have other symptoms or conditions such as trouble getting pregnant, you could also have endometriosis.
At the center of endometriosis is the reproductive system, where the ovaries produce hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle.
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Vagina
Uterus
Fallopian tube
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Ovary
Estrogen
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The menstrual cycle
Voiceover:
Typically, an increase in the hormone estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to thicken each month.
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Ovary
Estrogen
Voiceover:
This lining is called the endometrium.
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Endometrium
Voiceover:
If a woman doesn’t get pregnant that month, the endometrium will break down and shed. You know this as a period.
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What is endometriosis?
Voiceover:
In women with endometriosis, tissue that acts a lot like endometrium can start growing outside of the uterus.
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Endometrium
Voiceover:
The exact cause of the disease is unknown, but most scientists think that this happens when those bits of tissue leave the uterus in the wrong direction during the period—through the fallopian tubes. And while this process occurs in many healthy women, women with endometriosis experience it differently.
There are a few things that can put a woman at a higher risk for endometriosis, like a family history of the disease, starting your period at a young age, or long or heavy periods.
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Family history
Menstruating at a young age
Long or heavy periods
Voiceover:
Patches of this endometrium-like tissue are called lesions or implants.
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Lesions
Voiceover:
They are fueled by estrogen, just like the normal endometrium, and like a vine, they can cling to certain organs nearby.
As estrogen levels rise, the lesions can grow, and later in the menstrual cycle, can break down and shed. This can cause pain and inflammation throughout the month.
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Pain and inflammation
Voiceover:
Some lesions can even form their own nerves—another reason there can be pelvic pain outside of the period.
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Nerves
Voiceover:
Over time, lesions can form scar tissue or adhesions between organs—meaning they stick together, which can cause even more pain.
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Bladder
Uterus
Bowel
Lesions
Ovary
Voiceover:
Depending on the locations of the lesions, every woman’s symptoms can be different, and the number or size of lesions doesn’t necessarily relate to the level of pain.
Talk to your gynecologist if you have questions about endometriosis and want to learn more—there may be treatment options available.
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Share with your friends
AbbVie
Voiceover:
You can also share this video with the women in your life. You never know who it might help!
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KEEP TRACK. EVERY SYMPTOM MATTERS.
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Every woman’s symptoms can be different. They may include painful periods, pelvic pain in between periods, or pain with sex.
Chalin:
It’s not just painful cramps, it’s not just heavy period. It’s pain to where you can’t sleep.
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1 out of 10 women of reproductive age have endometriosis
Here are 4 who fought for answers
Let their courage inspire you
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Emily
Diagnosed with endometriosis 3 years ago
Emily:
It’s crazy how much I feel on my…from my inside.
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When you have so many symptoms, it can be hard to know what’s wrong.
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Silver
Diagnosed with endometriosis 5 years ago
Silver:
Like you have a sledgehammer or machete all in your body at once.
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Chalin
Diagnosed with endometriosis 12 years ago
Chalin:
You’re in the middle of being intimate and you have to tell him, I can’t handle the pain, you need to stop.
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Kristin
Diagnosed with endometriosis 2 years ago
Kristin:
You just lay in bed and with the heating pad, and just pray for sleep.
Chalin:
It’s all these things that I didn’t know was involved with it because I thought endometriosis is just a bad period.
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Keep track of your symptoms
It may lead to answers
Emily:
Write every symptom you have down.
Silver:
…How often they’re occurring. Keep a journal of what medicines you’re taking.
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Keep a journal
Chalin:
When your cramps come, how severe they are, if it’s worse in a particular type of situation.
…When I came in with that notebook, it made it easier for my provider to see the similarities and the patterns.
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Hold nothing back
Because all of it may matter
Chalin:
...It’s so important for other women to know how many different types of symptoms you can have…
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Take the symptom quiz now
And share your results with your doctor
Learn how to SpeakENDO
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TRUST YOUR GUT. FIND YOUR VOICE.
Silver:
I got the “maybe it’s in your mind, and maybe you need to go have a chitchat with a therapist.”
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1 out of 10 women of reproductive age have endometriosis
Here are 4 who fought for answers
Let their courage inspire you
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Chalin
Diagnosed with endometriosis 12 years ago
Chalin:
You’re in some of the most horrendous pain you’ve ever experienced, and you’re being told it’s really not that bad, you’re just overreacting, and it might be in your head.
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Think something’s wrong?
Trust your body—and your instincts.
Kristin:
I saw 13 doctors.
Silver:
…seven doctors...
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Emily
Diagnosed with endometriosis 3 years ago
Emily:
…and it wasn’t just in my head.
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Silver
Diagnosed with endometriosis 5 years ago
Silver:
We know our bodies. We know our symptoms. We know when something’s different. We know when something’s wrong.
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Find the strength to find some answers
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Kristin
Diagnosed with endometriosis 2 years ago
Kristin:
You have to be your own advocate. You have to do your research.
Silver:
I know that you can feel hopeless when you go to the doctor and you don’t get an answer…but keep going to the doctor.
Chalin:
…Ask questions.
Emily:
Be persistent.
Chalin:
Be extremely detailed about what happens to you.
Emily:
Eventually someone’s gonna listen…
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Amazing
Emily:
…when I saw the other doctor, she was amazing. I felt like she believed everything that I said.
Chalin:
It’s embarrassing to tell people what happens to you…But if you do not open your mouth, nothing will change. Nothing.
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Don’t give up
Speak up
Chalin:
You know your body better than anybody else in this world, and you need to trust that.
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Use the Doctor Discussion Guide and have a conversation with your doctor
Learn how to SpeakENDO
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HOW IT'S AFFECTED ME
Kristin:
You know, when I…I first started having the chronic pain, there was a lot of sympathy from friends, from family. Then a few months go by…and it starts waning.
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1 out of 10 women of reproductive age have endometriosis
Here are 4 who fought for answers
Let their courage inspire you
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Emily
Diagnosed with endometriosis 3 years ago
Emily:
I just was looked at as this huge hypochondriac, that I was just always sick.
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It can feel isolating when
people don’t understand your pain
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Kristin
Diagnosed with endometriosis 2 years ago
Kristin:
People who care about you also have trouble coming to terms with the fact that you are in pain.
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Roller coaster
Silver:
You could be on an emotional roller coaster. One day I could be feeling great and a few hours later I could be feeling my worst.
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You may miss out on a lot
when you’re sidelined by pain
Kristin:
…You start sheltering yourself. You start not going out…
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Silver
Diagnosed with endometriosis 5 years ago
Silver:
…I have to say, you know, unfortunately, I cannot make it.
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Chalin
Diagnosed with endometriosis 12 years ago
Chalin:
I’m truly sorry, from the bottom of my heart; I have to go home.
Emily:
I missed school. I missed events. Like I missed one of my best friend’s weddings.
Silver:
I have to remind myself, you’re not Wonder Woman.
Kristin:
You feel like you…you let people down.
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Things change once you know
what’s causing your pain
Kristin:
And now they’ve started to get an idea, really, of what I’m dealing with.
Emily:
People treated me so much differently.
Silver:
They say, “Hey, if you’re not feeling well, let us know so we can find out how we can help.”
Chalin:
Family members have opened their mind to a whole new understanding, and it’s beautiful. Friends…have become so much closer.
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Stay strong
The right people will understand
Kristin:
I’m so grateful for those people who stuck with me and believed in me.
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Get tips for talking to your doctor and people in your life about endometriosis
Learn how to SpeakENDO
And talk to your doctor
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BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOCTOR
Silver:
My relationship with my doctor is amazing. I know that when I go into his office to speak about something, I know that he’s listening.
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1 out of 10 women of reproductive age have endometriosis
Here are 4 who fought for answers
Let their courage inspire you
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Silver
Diagnosed with endometriosis 5 years ago
Silver:
It actually took me about 7 doctors to get through to get diagnosed.
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Finding answers may start
with finding the right doctor
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Chalin
Diagnosed with endometriosis 12 years ago
Chalin:
…It was a lot of not being listened to or just being dismissed.
Silver:
But I knew…I knew that something was wrong.
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Kristin
Diagnosed with endometriosis 2 years ago
Kristin:
Keep going until you get answers…
Emily:
…until you find someone that listens.
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Do your part
Be prepared and specific
Silver:
Keep a journal of what your symptoms are, how often they’re occurring. Keep a journal of what medicines you’re taking.
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Keep a journal
Chalin:
…Be extremely honest and thorough with your providers.
Silver:
When you go to the doctor, take that journal with you so you can go down a list of what’s been happening.
Chalin:
Just go in there. Do it.
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A good relationship is key to good care
Chalin:
…And I’ll tell him, “You know, hey, I’m having this symptom.” And he’s like, “Okay, this definitely can be endometriosis-related.”
Silver:
I’m very, very fortunate because when I say something, he hears me.
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Emily
Diagnosed with endometriosis 3 years ago
Emily:
Before I was being listened to just to listen, where with her I feel like I’m being listened to be understood. There’s a big difference.
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You deserve the right doctor
Find one near you with our Doctor Locator Tool, and have a candid conversation
Learn how to SpeakENDO
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SHINE A LIGHT ON ENDO
A light is beginning to spark, shining a new understanding on endometriosis. It’s powered by speaking up—for our mothers, our sisters, our friends, the 1 in 10 women living with this disease. As more of us rise up and speak up, we’ll generate a light so powerful it’ll lift the darkness for endo sufferers everywhere. Add your voice. Light up your feed. By sharing #SpeakENDO. Speak up, speak out, shine a light on endo.
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SPEAK UP FOR ENDO
Voiceover:
It’s time we speak up.
It’s time we stand together.
It’s time we stop sucking it up.
Because, not enough people know about endometriosis.
Not enough people know about the painful periods.
The pelvic pain in between periods.
The pain with sex.
And how it impacts our daily lives.
How frustrating it is.
How debilitating the pain can be.
How alone it can make us feel.
It’s not all in our heads—
this pain is real...
And it’s time we speak up.
Speak up for the 1 in 10 of us living with it.
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About 1 in 10 women of reproductive age have endometriosis.
Voiceover:
Speak up...
...for your neighbor,
your sister,
your mother,
your best friend.
Speak up for change.
Because, imagine if we all spoke up together.
The awareness we could raise.
The conversations we could start.
And the women we could help.
There’s power in numbers.
So join us, help us, and raise
your voice with us...
...Because it’s time.
Time to
Speak out.
Speak up...
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SpeakENDO.com
Voiceover:
...and Speak Endo.
[SPEAK UP FOR ENDO LOGO]
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