Welcome to Endo Battery, the podcast that's here to journey with you through Endometriosis and Adenomyosis.
In a world where silence often shrouds these challenging conditions, Endo Battery stands as a beacon of hope and a source of strength. We believe in the power of knowledge, personal stories, and expert insights to illuminate the path forward. Our mission? To walk with you, hand in hand, through the often daunting landscape of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis.
This podcast is like a warm hug for your ears, offering you a cozy space to connect, learn, and heal. Whether you're newly diagnosed, a seasoned warrior, or a curious supporter, Endo Battery is a resource for you. Here, you'll find a community that understands your struggles and a team dedicated to delivering good, accurate information you can trust.
What to expect from Endo Battery:
Personal Stories: We're all about real-life experiences – your stories, our stories – because we know that sometimes, the most profound insights come from personal journeys.
Leading Experts: Our podcast features interviews with top experts in the field. These are the individuals who light up the path with their knowledge, sharing their wisdom and expertise to empower you.
Comfort and Solace: We understand that Endometriosis can be draining – physically, emotionally, and mentally. Endo Battery is your safe space, offering comfort and solace to help you recharge and regain your strength.
Life-Charging Insights: When Endometriosis tries to drain your life, Endo Battery is here to help you recharge. We're the energy boost you've been looking for, delivering insights and strategies to help you live your best life despite the challenges.
Join us on this journey, and together, we'll light up the darkness that often surrounds Endometriosis and Adenomyosis. Your story, your strength, and your resilience are at the heart of Endo Battery. Tune in, listen, share, and lets charge forward together.
This episode delves deep into the latest research on endometriosis, emphasizing the critical importance of complete surgical excision and its substantial benefits for patients' quality of life, particularly regarding sexual health. We discuss how laparoscopic surgery can significantly improve the overall well-being of individuals with endometriosis, the enduring challenges in obtaining timely diagnoses, and the recent rebranding of bladder pain syndrome, all underscoring the need for informed patient advocacy.
• Examining the effects of endometriosis on sexual life • The impact of complete excision vs. incomplete removal • Laparoscopic surgery as a catalyst for improvement • Addressing fertility in the context of endometriosis • The persistent delays in endometriosis diagnosis • Understanding the newly named Female Bladder Pain Syndrome • Encouragement for self-advocacy and informed decision-making
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 to EndoBattery Fast Charged, where I break down big ideas into bite-sized insights to keep your energy up and your mind sharp. Today we're diving head first into some fascinating research that's been making waves in the endometriosis community. But before we jump in, here's a quick and crucial reminder. Correlation does not equal causation. Just because a study finds a connection doesn't mean one thing is causing the other. Think of it like this If you read that people who eat more chocolate are happier, does that mean chocolate makes you happy, or are happy people just reaching for the good stuff more often? The answer is not always so straightforward, though I'll admit. Chocolate probably helps. In this episode, I'm breaking down some of the most intriguing recent research articles to help separate the facts from the hype. We'll talk about what these findings actually mean, how they can impact your health journey and why it's so important to ask questions like what's the bigger picture here? So grab your favorite drink, settle in and let's tackle the data, together with a dose of curiosity, compassion and maybe just a little fun. Let's talk about something that doesn't get nearly enough airtime and it's going to be a doozy how endometriosis affects quality of life, in this case, the quality of your sex life. Yes, we're going there, so grab a snack or a glass of wine if you need.
Speaker 1:
A recent study titled Is Complete Excision Always Enough? A Quality of Sexual Life Assessment in Patients with Deep Endometriosis decided to take a deep dive pun absolutely intended into how different surgical approaches for removing rectovaginal endometriosis nodules can affect the bedroom of 116 patients over three years. What did they find? Well, the results are about as subtle as a giant neon sign saying excise everything. Here's a scoop. The study looked at two groups. Group A had surgeons who took their job seriously and completely removed all the disease Team full excision. Group B had surgeons who, for whatever reason, left some lesions behind Team incomplete removal. And here's the thing Group A walked away with far better outcomes. Those who had complete excision experienced significantly improved sexual quality of life. That's code for less pain during sex and an added bonus less pain during periods and other moments where endo likes to rare its ugly head. Meanwhile, group B's results were more like yeah, still kind of painful, not the vibe anyone's looking for.
Speaker 1:
Now here's where it gets interesting, and by interesting I mean infuriating. This study highlights that incomplete removal just doesn't cut it. Literally and figuratively. It leaves patients hanging stuck with lingering pain and lower quality of life improvements. So if you're wondering if your endometriosis surgeon's approach matters, the answer is a resounding yes. What's also wild is that studies like this are rare.
Speaker 1:
The link between endotreatment and sexual functioning hasn't been studied enough, which is crazy because newsflash. Your sex life and your overall quality of life are hugely connected. If you're in pain every time you even think about intimacy, it's going to ripple out into other areas of your health and happiness. What's the takeaway here? It's simple Complete excision is the gold standard, the headliner, the Taylor Swift of endometriosis surgery and when it comes to improving both the pain and pleasure spectrum of life, settling for less just doesn't cut it. Pun again intended. So if you're navigating the tricky waters of endocare, this study is your friendly reminder to advocate for yourself and aim for surgeons who don't just shave the surface but tackle the disease head on, because everyone deserves a pain-free life and, yes, a good sex life too.
Speaker 1:
When it comes to endometriosis, the struggle is real, like curl up in a blanket burrito and refuse to move real. But here's some encouraging news hot off the research press. A recent study published just this month titled Evaluating Quality of Life Improvements in Endometriosis Patients Following Laparoscopic Surgery, using EHP30 Scale, tackled a big question Can laparoscopic surgery actually help improve the quality of life for endo warriors? The answer is yes. But let's dive into the juicy details. The researchers behind the study went full detective mode, enrolling 70 endometriosis patients to see how their lives changed before and after laparoscopic surgery. But they didn't just ask vague questions like how do you feel? No, they got fancy with it using a tool called Endometriosis Health Profile 30 Questionnaire, aka EHP-30. Think of it as a report card for your quality of life, but with less math and more emotional vibes.
Speaker 1:
Before surgery, these patients were dealing with everything endometriosis throws at you stabbing pain, mood swings that could rival soap opera plots and the energy levels of a phone stuck at 1%. Fast forward three months post-surgery and the results were chef's kiss. Months post-surgery, and the results were chef's kiss. The EHP30 scores showed major improvements in pain levels, emotional health and daily life. Pain less stabby, emotions, more steady Daily life, a little less like a constant battle. Now is three months a long time? Not really. It's like binge watching a couple shows on Netflix Okay, maybe like several seasons, but for these patients, even that short-term relief was life-changing.
Speaker 1:
Here's where it gets real. Endometriosis doesn't just mess with your insides, it messes with your entire existence. Pain, fatigue and emotional distress can make everyday tasks feel huge. So the fact that laparoscopic surgery can significantly improve physical, emotional and even social well-being is a big deal. It's not just about removing lesions. It's about giving patients a shot at living, not just surviving. Okay, okay, before you start booking surgeries, let's pump the brakes.
Speaker 1:
This study had a pretty small sample size 70 people and the follow-up period was just three months, not exactly a lifetime. Plus. The surgery's success heavily depends on the skill of the surgeon. You don't want someone who learned laparoscopic techniques on YouTube. You need a seasoned expert with precision and care.
Speaker 1:
This study is like a shiny beacon of hope for anyone dealing with endo. It confirms what many patients already know Laparoscopic surgery, when done by a skilled professional, can make a real difference in managing the beast that is endometriosis. Sure, it's not a cure-all and the journey doesn't end there, but it's a solid step toward reclaiming your life. So if you've been considering surgery or just looking for a glimmer of hope, know that there are options out there. And hey, with tools like the EHP30, researchers are making sure that your pain isn't just heard, it's measured, tracked and tackled. Now, that's what I call progress. And remember, life after laparoscopic surgery might not be perfect, but it could be a whole lot better than life before. Plus, fewer blanket burrito days mean more time for, well, literally everything else.
Speaker 1:
All right, friends, let's dive into another hot endotopic fertility. Yes, we're talking about one of the big messy emotional elephants in the room for people with endometriosis. There's good news and bad news, but let's start with the glass half full stuff. In a study out of Frankfurt University Hospital titled Laparoscopic Endometriosis Surgery in Patients with Infertility Identifying Surgical and Non-Surgical Variables Affecting Prospective Pregnancy Long-Term Follow-Up in University Endometriosis Care analyzed a decade's worth of patient's data, that's 695 people.
Speaker 1:
In case you were curious to figure out what helps endometriosis patients improve their chances of having a baby, post-surgery and results let's just say excision surgery continues to be the Taylor Swift of endometriosis treatment. Here's the deal the researchers found that complete excision of endometriosis lesions doesn't just improve fertility, it also reduces reoccurrence rates and improves overall quality of life. So if you're trying to conceive, clearing out all the endo can make a huge, real difference. That's the good news. Now for the but, because there's always a but with endo, isn't there?
Speaker 1:
Adhesions and repeat surgeries can lower the odds of getting pregnant after surgery. In fact, they emphasize that the key to success is a one and done approach Complete resection the first time around, with minimal complications or unnecessary repeat surgeries. Think of it like baking a souffle One good attempt is better than a bunch of half-baked ones that collapse. The study also highlights another critical point Timing is everything. They recommend laparoscopic surgery as early as possible for patients dealing with infertility and endo. The earlier the intervention, the better the chance to catch and treat those lesions before they wreak even more havoc. But and it's a big but surgeons need to do it right the first time. Incomplete removal just sets you up for more complications, potential repeat surgeries and a lot of frustration. In short, this study is another resounding vote for excision surgery being the MVP of endometriosis care.
Speaker 1:
It's not just about pain relief. It's about tackling the disease in a way that sets patients up for long-term success, whether that's getting pregnant or just living with less endo-related chaos. So if fertility is part of your endo journey, consider this study your friendly reminder to advocate for top-notch care. Aim for a surgeon who knows how to excise completely and avoid repeat interventions like the plague or, in this case, like adhesions. Because let's be real, when it comes to endometriosis, nobody's got time for half measures.
Speaker 1:
Now let's talk about something that gets a lot of eye rolls and rightly so in the endometriosis community how long it takes to get a diagnosis Spoiler alert. The news isn't exactly heartwarming. Despite all the buzz about better awareness, improved care guidelines and hashtags like hashtag endo-awareness, the average delay in diagnosing endometriosis is still hovering around a decade. That's 10 years of symptoms being brushed off, misdiagnosed or, straight up, ignored. Imagine trying to get tech support for a broken phone and being told to just restart it for an entire decade. It's that kind of frustration, times 1,000.
Speaker 1:
A recent systematic review titled Time to Diagnose Endometriosis Current State Challenges and Regional Characteristics, a systematic literature review, dug into this very topic by analyzing 17 observational studies published since 2018. They found that, depending on where you live, your symptoms and how researchers define time to diagnosis, the delay ranged from as little as 0.3 years yes, someone got lucky to a whopping 12 years. Ouch, why the holdup? The study pointed fingers largely at you guessed it physicians. Not necessarily out of malice, but because endosymptoms are sneaky and often dismissed as just bad periods. Add in a lack of standardized diagnostic criteria, varying levels of awareness and systemic issues in healthcare and you've got a perfect storm for delayed care. The authors of the review had a clear message this isn't good enough. They called for better awareness campaigns, more standardized definitions of diagnostic timelines and targeted efforts to close the gap between symptom onset and actual diagnosis. Because, let's be honest, nobody should have to endure years of pain, fatigue and confusion just to finally hear oh, it's endometriosis. So what's the takeaway? If you're still fighting to get answers, you're not alone and this delay isn't your fault. And for those in healthcare, it's time to do better. Patients deserve to have their symptoms taken seriously and investigated thoroughly, without a decade-long guessing game. Because here's the thing early diagnosis isn't just a nice to have. It's essential for better outcomes, whether it's managing pain, preserving fertility or just having a higher quality of life. So here's to hoping we can move the average timeline from a decade to ASAP. All right, we're going to look at our last study.
Speaker 1:
Let's talk about bladder pain. Yes, that often overlooked, too often misunderstood pelvic pain puzzle piece that so many of us in the Indo community have bumped into. And guess what? It just got a brand new name In a change spearheaded by the American Urogynecologic Society and the International Urogynecologic Association. Try saying that fast three times.
Speaker 1:
The condition, formerly known as interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome, is now officially called female bladder pain syndrome or FBPS. Why the rebrand, you ask? Well, the old terminology wasn't exactly a beacon of clarity. Icbps often left patients and doctors alike scratching their heads. What even is this condition, and how is it different from every other type of pelvic pain? The new term, fbps, is meant to sharpen the focus. It highlights the condition's unique characteristics in women and those assigned female at birth, paving the way for clearer diagnosis and more tailored clinical care.
Speaker 1:
Here's the lowdown on FBPS. It's a chronic condition marked by bladder pain or discomfort lasting at least three months. The kicker it often gets worse when the bladder fills and its symptoms mimic those of other pelvic conditions like endometriosis and pelvic floor dysfunction. To make things even trickier, fbps likes to team up with other pain syndromes. Think pelvic pain's answer to troublemaking sidekick.
Speaker 1:
Diagnosing this condition is like finding a needle in a haystack. Because of symptom overlap with other pelvic conditions, it's often dismissed, misdiagnosed or lumped into an unknown pain category. That leaves patients feeling stuck. But the experts hope that renaming it FBPS or female bladder pain syndrome, and emphasizing its distinct features, they can better equip healthcare providers to identify and treat it. So what does this mean for you If you're someone dealing with bladder pain and it's been shrugged off or blamed on? Just stress? This change is a step in the right direction. It's a push toward more precise language, better research and fingers crossed more effective treatment options down the line. Fbps is here to give this bladder pain condition a clearer identity and, hopefully, some much needed attention in the medical world, because, let's be real, nobody's bladder deserves to be misunderstood for this long.
Speaker 1:
I love that we're seeing more research coming out and people talking more about varying facets of endometriosis. I hope you're walking away with a better understanding of how to look at research critically and feel empowered to ask the right questions on your health journey. Remember, it's not about having all the answers. It's about staying curious and informed. If you found today's breakdown helpful, I'd love for you to share this episode with someone who needs it. You never know whose battery might get that recharge they've been searching for. And while you're at it, make sure to hit the follow or subscribe button so you never miss a quick burst of insights. Do you have questions about a topic or a study you'd like me to tackle? Or maybe you just want to share how you're recharging your battery these days? Head on over to Instagram at endobattery, or visit my website at indobatterycom to drop me a message. I'd love to hear from you. Until next time, keep recharging, keep questioning and keep advocating for yourself and for others.
