Imagine waiting for years, sometimes decades, to receive a diagnosis for an illness that's made you change every aspect of your life. If you're living with endometriosis, you probably understand this better than most. To learn more about this life-changing condition, Nam Kiwanuka speaks with gynaecological surgeon and sonologist Dr. Mathew Leonardi and researcher Shay Freger from McMaster University. They say the state of endo research has never been stronger, but that there's still a lot to be done to understand the scope of the condition's effect on women.

Got a question or comment? Email us at: mistreatedpodcast@tvo.org

The Endometriosis Network Canada: https://endometriosisnetwork.com

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with mental health, visit any of the following resources for support:

Wellness Together Canada

https://www.wellnesstogether.ca/en-CA

To connect with a mental health professional one-on-one:

• call 1-888-668-6810 or text WELLNESS to 686868 for youth
• call 1-866-585-0445 or text WELLNESS to 741741 for adults

Kids Help Phone

Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868.

The Government of Ontario’s Mental Health Support Resources

https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support

Follow TVO on social: https://www.youtube.com/theagenda

https://www.instagram.com/mistreatedtvo

Join our newsletter: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters

Visit the TVO Today website for current affairs journalism, documentaries and podcasts: https://www.tvo.org

Attractiveness of women with rectovaginal endometriosis: a case-control study: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22985951

Closing the women's health gap: A $1 trillion opportunity to improve lives and economies: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/closing-the-womens-health-gap-a-1-trillion-dollar-opportunity-to-improve-lives-and-economies

The phenotypic and genetic association between endometriosis and immunological diseases: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40262193

Women with endometriosis say they are enduring extreme pain due to pandemic surgery delays, lack of expertise: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/woman-endure-endometriosis-pain-during-pandemic-1.6377249

Hysterectomy is more common, and occurs at younger ages, for women with less education: https://theconversation.com/hysterectomy-is-more-common-and-occurs-at-younger-ages-for-women-with-less-education-237937

Meet Shay Freger: endometriosis researcher and greenhouse volunteer: https://news.mcmaster.ca/meet-shay-freger-endometriosis-researcher-and-greenhouse-volunteer

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.