Is it as simple as hormones and hysterectomies?

As Adenomyosis Month 2024 wraps up we hear from Dr. Gaby Moawad from the Center for Endometriosis and Advanced Pelvic Surgery in our seventh episode of the Invisible Iconic Podcast.

We explore the adenomyosis sub-types, discover new treatment options and discuss the myths and misinformation surrounding this enigmatic disease. Don’t let the ironic technical difficulties fool you - you’ll want to hear all about Adenomyosis and New Technologies!

Back in March during Endometriosis Awareness Month I had the pleasure of interviewing Heather Guidone for the EndoWhat NSW/Greater Sydney Premiere of the Below The Belt Documentary Film.Heather is a Board Certified Patient Advocate and Surgical Program Coordinator for the Center for Endometriosis Care, Atlanta, Georgia. With roughly three decades of experience with the disease, endometriosis advocacy and all things endo - Heather is a wealth of knowledge and a fierce advocate for all endo sufferers. Hear what Heather thinks of interdisciplinary care, Australia's pelvic pain clinics, menstrual health programs and much more.

Can you name the three types of pain? In episode 5 we explore different types of pain and look at noxious stimuli, diagnostic tests from chronic pain, and hear more about pain from Dr. Andrew Watson, a specialist anesthetist on the board of the Australian Pain Society.

In our first in-person interview, we are live in Hobart, Tasmania (Lutruwita), Australia. Sam (@chronicandcomplex), Aimee (@tasendogirl) and Juliette (@my_chronically_complex_life) discuss their experiences within the Tasmanian healthcare system and with endometriosis within Tasmania and Australia more broadly.

We are called attention-seeking, anxious, toxic swamp monsters by governments, media and allied health who aren’t true endometriosis excision specialists. We are told an holistic interdisciplinary care approach will manage or even cure our endometriosis.

Despite the debunking of retrograde menstruation as the single cause of the disease, the latest academic paper by our national endo bodies still defines it as ‘tissue like the lining of the uterus’ found in other locations around the body.

Despite a minimum of 830,000 people suffering with endometriosis in Australia, a national action plan made by government, ‘endometriosis experts’ and hand selected advocacy groups as well as private health insurance extras cover options (for those who can afford it) which include allied health physiotherapists, dieticians and acupuncture…we are drowning, not waving.

In this third episode of the Invisible Iconic Podcast, we hear from Lia, Pia and Seline about every trick under the sun that they’ve tried, in an effort to rid themselves of their disease, or at least their symptoms.

What has worked and what definitely hasn’t?

If you Eat, Pray, Excise can you cure your disease?

Endometriosis sufferers have been called hysterical since the Ancient Greeks thought our wombs (hyster) were wandering....fast forward to Freud, whose influence on gynaecology and psychology has left a bad taste in our mouths (and in the rest of our bodies). In 2021 we were called ‘Karens’ by 'gynfluencers' - ultimate burn? Or are we endometriosis sufferers living in the modern day version of the witch trials except this time it's not the stake, it’s ablation. So on today’s episode I’ve invited Jorja (16, school student), Dana (30, resident doctor) and Diane (42, lawyer) to discuss some of their experiences both with treatments of endometriosis as well as some of the gaslighting that has occurred during their diagnosis journey.

Broken bones, psychosis and eating disorders...just some of the side-effects suffered by four Australian women between 16 - 27 years old, whilst on the drug Zoladex (goserelin acetate). In the past couple of months - Australian endo sufferers have been yelling into the void to change the endometriosis guidelines - using online advocacy for Endometriosis Awareness Month and the hashtag #changetheguidelines.