In this episode, Dr Lucy Whitaker discusses one of the most common yet least understood conditions in reproductive health: endometriosis. She explains what's actually happening in the body when cells similar to the womb lining grow elsewhere, why some women live with severe disease and no symptoms while others are in daily pain, and why the current one-size-fits-all approach to treatment doesn't reflect how differently this condition shows up in each person.

The conversation also explores why diagnosis so often takes years, the ground-breaking ENDO 1000 project that's making research more accessible through at-home participation, and the search for new treatments - from repurposed drugs to CBD trials - that offer real hope for the future.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women yet the amount of disease someone has doesn't reliably predict how much pain they're in
• Endometriosis doesn't stop when your period does; many women lose that cyclical pattern over time, and being told “it can't be endo” for that reason is a myth
• There's still no reliable blood test for endometriosis, which is a major reason average diagnosis takes years
• New research is opening up the potential for faster diagnosis and more personalised treatment

To find out more about Lucy's work, visit the EXPPECT website and read about the groundbreaking ENDO 1000 project.

You can find support and information at Endometriosis UK, Wellbeing of Women, and NHS Inform.

Hosted by Dr. Erin Williams @DrErinWill

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