Everything You Need to Know About Endometriosis

July 1, 2025

According to the World Health Organization, 10% of women worldwide, or 190 million women, are diagnosed with endometriosis. But the actual number of women who have endometriosis is likely much higher as so many cases go undiagnosed.

Endometriosis is a disease in which the tissue similar to that which lines the uterus begins to grow outside of the uterus, potentially causing pain and other complications. The main symptom of endometriosis is a painful menstrual cycle, but the pelvic and abdominal pain associated with endometriosis may eventually become chronic. 

Endometriosis can begin with the first menstrual cycle and last through menopause. Because so many women are dismissed as simply having painful cycles, it’s essential to raise awareness about this condition.

If you think you or someone you know may be suffering through symptoms without a diagnosis, here’s everything you need to know about endometriosis. 

What Makes Diagnosis Difficult 

Women see seven physicians on average before getting diagnosed, and the average delay for diagnosis is 8.5 years. Because the symptoms of endometriosis can mimic other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, diagnosis is often prolonged, if even diagnosed at all. “Endometriosis is a fascinating, but troubling disease,” says Dr. Hugh Taylor, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale New Haven Hospital. “It’s something that is often missed,” he says.

Another factor that makes diagnosis difficult is that the only way to diagnose someone with endometriosis definitively is through a laparoscopic procedure. Once endometrial lesions are deep enough, some may appear on an ultrasound, CT, or MRI scan. But by then, the stage of endometriosis may be somewhat advanced.  Doctors may suspect the disease and clinically diagnose and treat patients for the time being. If endometriosis is suspected, the only way to a definitive diagnosis is through a laparoscopy.

What to Know About Symptoms

Besides having difficult periods each month, other symptoms include pain that becomes chronic throughout the body, digestive irregularities, bladder issues, fatigue, infertility, and mental health struggles. “We’re not talking a little bit of pain here,” says Philippa Saunders, a reproductive biologist at the University of Edinburgh. “People can’t function.” 

When it comes to endometriosis, it’s important to understand that the disease is a whole-body issue. “In the past three to five years, there’s been a complete reframing of this disorder as a neuroinflammatory whole-body condition,” says Saunders. “It isn’t just about a little bit of tissue stuck in the wrong place. Your whole body has reacted.”

Because the tissue can grow anywhere outside of the uterus, endometriosis has the potential to spread throughout the body, affecting every major organ system. Many symptoms are caused by the inflammation that occurs because of the disease. This is why a patient may experience bowel issues, even when lesions are absent in the bowels. 

Why You Need a Specialist 

Even though endometriosis is a gynecological condition, not every gynecologist is extensively trained in diagnosing and treating endometriosis. Because the condition is so complex and largely misunderstood, even the best doctors are not equipped to treat the disorder if they don’t specialize in it. 

The Endometriosis Foundation of America recommends finding a specialist that has exceptional surgical skills, access to modern techniques and equipment, a current understanding of various treatments, and an openness to complementary approaches. Since there is no known cause or cure for endometriosis yet, the best way to manage the condition is through ongoing treatment with a trusted doctor. 

“For women, it can be validating to learn that all of their symptoms have an explanation and that we have effective treatments,” says Taylor. If you suspect endometriosis, you should ask your healthcare team, including your general doctor, OB-GYN, and pelvic floor therapist, if they have any recommendations for specialists in your area. 

Listen to your body and remain committed to finding a doctor who will listen to you, too. Trust your intuition and ask yourself if a doctor is listening to you, acknowledging your symptoms, and addressing your concerns. 

Treatment Options

If endometriosis has been confirmed through another laparoscopic procedure or it is suspected, an excision surgery becomes an option in reducing pain and preventing further complications. Excision surgery at the root of a lesion, rather than ablation, is the best way to prevent the lesions from returning. 

However, the removal of lesions is not a cure. A study in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found that 62% of women with endometriosis had a second surgery within two years, while half had a repeat surgery within 5.5 years. 

The recurrence rate is why maintaining the condition is the main component of ongoing treatment. Make sure you have a doctor who is knowledgeable in hormone therapy, is monitoring your symptoms closely, and making lifestyle recommendations. For instance, plenty of movement and exercise, particularly pelvic floor therapy and Pilates, reduce recurrence and symptoms, while a plant-based anti-inflammatory diet does the same. 

Insureyouknow.org

If you are diagnosed with endometriosis, then prioritizing your overall health will be the best thing you can do to manage the condition. Do everything possible to reduce your symptoms, including working with your doctors. With Insureyouknow.org, you may keep all of your research, medical records, and financial documents in one place, making the management of your endometriosis less overwhelming.

Changing Your Exercise Routine After 50

October 15, 2024

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, American adults should get between 150 and 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, in addition to at least two muscle-strengthening activities a week. The recommendations are based on evidence that shows a link between a sedentary lifestyle and an increase in all-cause mortality.

As you grow older, your body and lifestyle change, so it makes sense that your exercise routine should change as well. The benefits of regular exercise on physical and mental health are numerous, including improved cognitive function, alleviating depression, muscle mass and bone density maintenance, and reduced risk of many illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Most importantly, exercising as you age can help you maintain your independence and improve your overall quality of life.

What to Consider Before Getting Started

Before beginning any new exercise routine, it’s important to check with your doctor first. “If you have any medical conditions, always see your healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program,” says Karol Watson, a cardiologist at UCLA. Patients with arthritis, for instance, could find high-impact exercise bothersome for their joints, so their physician might recommend low-impact cardiovascular activities, such as walking or swimming. In contrast, patients with high blood pressure might need to avoid heavy weightlifting until they’ve received clearance from their doctor.

After checking with your doctor, another thing to consider is your lifestyle outside of the new exercise routine. In order to maintain your ability to exercise and promote recovery, you’ll need to think about taking care of your body before and after physical activity. “That includes being hydrated and fueling your body with nutritious food,” says Elizabeth Gardner, an orthopedic surgeon at Yale. “It also includes stretching both before and after your workout to help keep your muscles happy and prevent injury.”

Walking is the Number One Recommendation

For heart health, Watson says walking is the number one type of movement she tells all of her patients to begin doing once they hit the age of 50. That’s because walking is the most foundational, universal workout that almost anyone can do. “The best way to start out with an exercise program is with regular walking,” Watson says. “Walking has all of the same health benefits of more intense exercises such as running.” You may receive the benefits faster with running, but the benefits remain the same, including working all of the same muscles. Even better, walking isn’t as risky for older fitness goers as it’s associated with lower rates of injury. Since it’s a low-impact exercise, walking is far easier on the joints than running, where you’re pounding the pavement repetitively.

Walking is something anyone can do no matter where they live, whether urban or rural, and it doesn’t require a gym membership so there are no financial barriers. Plus, spending time outdoors for activity increases the benefits of exercise through increased sunlight and nature exposure. Just because walking is simple doesn’t mean it has to be boring, as there are many ways to vary your walking, like increasing your pace, walking on an incline to incorporate a resistance factor, or giving Nordic walking a try, where you incorporate ski-like poles for more of a total-body workout. Walking doesn’t just have to be part of your workout. Incorporating bursts of walking throughout your day is also beneficial.

Swimming for Overall Health

Swimming is another low-impact exercise that can be done outside if you swim in a natural body of water or outdoor pool. It is one of the few exercises that work the entire body while also improving cardiovascular function. If you don’t find the repetitive motion of swimming laps enjoyable, then a water aerobics class, which has similar benefits, might be a better fit for you.

For those over 50, there are a multitude of health benefits to swimming, such as an increase in lung capacity. Since lung capacity naturally decreases as you age, which can make it more difficult to breathe, regular swimming can improve your overall respiratory function. One of the most surprising health benefits of swimming is improved brain function. As swimming increases blood flow to the brain, the production of new brain cells is stimulated, which improves mental clarity and focus and can help prevent age-related cognitive declines.

Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi for Balance

While yoga, pilates, and tai chi will improve your balance, which becomes increasingly important as you age in preventing falls, all three of these activities also represent a good balance between getting both a physical and mental workout. While all forms of exercise have mental health benefits, yoga, pilates, and tai chi are designed to be particularly meditative. Stretching and mobility exercises such as these will improve your flexibility and joint range of motion, all contributing to preventing injuries.

While both yoga and tai chi will strengthen your core, pilates is known for being an excellent core workout. Having a strong core helps with back and joint pain, posture, and even respiratory function. Many people don’t even realize their cores’ weakness until they try Pilates. “We humans tend to live along a single plane of movement, working the same muscles daily,” says Houston Methodist athletic trainer Leanne Wonesh. “These repetitive movements are what make us so leg and chest dominant. The goal of Pilates is to balance your muscles by targeting and strengthening the ones you don’t usually use in your day-to-day life but would benefit from them being stronger,” she says.

Dancing Your Way to Health

You can easily do dancing at home or a class in your community. When you dance with others, you’ll not only be getting the benefits that come from moving your body, but you’ll be bonding with others as well. You may try ballet, salsa, or tap dance classes on your own and meet others to dance with in class, or if you have a partner, ballroom classes will cover a variety of styles perfect for beginners.

Besides being a form of exercise that you may greatly enjoy, the physical benefits include improved balance, mobility, and reduced joint pain. According to a Saint Louis University study, just two dance sessions per week reduced the amount of pain medication needed by those over 80. In addition to its physicality, dancing also gives your brain a workout. It involves quick decision-making and having to memorize routines and steps, which can create new neural pathways in the brain and help keep the brain cognitively fit.

When to Include Resistance Training

After adapting to some form of aerobic activity, stretching, and some balancing exercises, then it’s time to add at least two sessions of resistance training per week to your exercise routine. A comprehensive exercise plan that includes both cardio that gets your heart rate up and strength training will yield the best results for your overall health. Resistance exercises can include movements that utilize your body weight, like push-ups and squats, resistance machines that you’ll find in a gym, and weight training with dumbbells. If you’re not sure where to begin, then invest in a few sessions with a personal trainer who will make sure you do the right exercises for your goals, as well as show you how to do them correctly to avoid injury.

Insureyouknow.org Perhaps the most important thing about exercising is finding the ones that you’ll stick with because you enjoy them. An active lifestyle includes activities like gardening, walking the dog, and playing with your children and grandchildren. If you’re a social person, then finding someone to workout with can make exercise more enjoyable. If you like sports, then tennis or golf may be more your style. With Insureyouknow.org, you can keep track of the exercises you try out, analyze the progress you make, and store all of your health records in one place. By prioritizing exercise as you age, you’ll experience a multitude of benefits to your overall health.