Episode 46: Why Endometriosis Is Still Mismanaged & How We Can Do Better as Clinicians w Heather Guidone

Heather Guidone joins us to help work through all of the noise surrounding endometrosis. She the Program Director of the Center for Endometriosis Care and a Board Certified professional health Advocate. She has focused on 'bench to beltway to bedside' efforts in endometriosis research funding and facilitation, legislation and policy reform, education, advocacy and activism, patient-centric care, and more for over thirty years; importantly, she is also someone who has struggled with the disease. What we will discuss: -Why the "retrograde menstruation" theory falls short-Why birth control, pregnancy, and hysterectomy aren't  cures-The key differences between ablation and excision surgery-Why diagnosis requires skilled listening, imaging, and sometimes biopsy-How trauma, chronic stress, and nervous system dysregulation can influence symptoms-The critical role of patient autonomy, informed consent, and individualized care-How to find a skilled excision surgeon and what questions to ask-Non-surgical ways to manage endo symptoms (like PT, stress regulation, and nutrition)Timeline:00:00 Introduction to Endometriosis Mismanagement00:28 Meet Heather Guidon: Advocate and Expert00:59 Debunking Myths: Retrograde Menstruation and More03:55 Understanding Endometriosis: Beyond Painful Periods13:03 The Role of Trauma and Stress in Endometriosis15:09 Patient-Centric Care and Informed Consent28:18 Diagnosis and Treatment Options40:05 Understanding Excision and Ablation42:31 Challenges in Accessing Quality Care46:09 Questions to Ask Your Provider49:16 The Importance of Compassionate Care54:05 Surgical and Non-Surgical Treatments59:27 The Role of Hormonal Treatments01:07:01 Endometriosis: A Multifactorial Approach01:09:35 How to Reach Out for Help01:13:40 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsYou can learn more about Heather at:https://www.centerforendo.com/Want support for perimenopause that goes beyond hormones?Whether you (or your clients) are taking HRT but still having symptoms, not ready for it, or can’t tolerate it...there’s more we can do.I’ll be sharing practical tools from a movement and rehab perspective, focusing on the nervous system, fascia, lymph, viscera, and musculoskeletal system.If you want updates on workshops, resources, and strategies to support this phase of life more fully, would love you to join my email list.Subscribe to my email list hereI’ll see you in 2 weeks!PS:If you are interested in being a guest on the show, please fill out the form here.