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Labor Day weekend is here, and I want to give a shout-out to all of you who work so hard. It's not easy planning a career or even getting to work with endometriosis. We still have a lot of work to do when it comes to prioritizing and developing strategies to support endometriosis-affected individuals to realize their work and professional goals, but our community is strong and change is coming.

September is PCOS Awareness Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and Pain Awareness Month. I want to take a moment to acknowledge every person struggling with these diseases. As endometriosis warriors and advocates know well, advocacy for conditions that affect individuals with female-reproductive organs is an upward hill; we must continue to climb together.

As endometriosis surgery has resumed across the country, you'll want to ensure you have all the information, items, and support you need. If you're heading into surgery soon, this highly informative surgery checklist may help relieve some stress.

Read on for Kelly Sgroi's powerful creative nonfiction piece on living with endometriosis during the COVID-19 pandemic, a spotlight on why Janelle Lauria participated in the End Endo 5K, as well as more information on our Annual Patient Conference, now open for free registration.

In community,

Margaret Caspler Cianci
Executive Director, EndoFound

We’ve worked with patients to prepare a critical and handy endo surgery toolkit to help relieve some stress as you prepare for surgery. Every patient is different and therefore every patient finds comfort through their own means. Prepping items that will provide you comfort and eliminate stress as you prepare for surgery can help.

Last weekend marked the first ever End Endo 5K and we are overwhelmed by our community’s generosity and support. Together we raised over $15K, and are still going. Team EndoFound hailed from Alaska to Florida and Canada to Texas. Whether in state parks or on routes in the shape of an ovary with growths, folks completed their 5Ks by roller skating, horseback riding, and kayaking. Parents, children, siblings, partners, pets and friends participated, some with and some in honor of individuals with endo. Read on for highlights on why these individuals got moving to End Endo, and save the date for our next End Endo 5K on November 1st! 

You know your body best, and you know what works for you when managing endo symptoms. Earlier this summer, we collected tips from the endo community on how to manage endometriosis pain through our weekly newsletter. We’re delighted now to share these tips in one place. If you have a tip for pain management that isn’t already included, please share via the Endo Tip Jar. The more information we collect and share, the more individuals who have endometriosis—whether preparing for their next surgery or newly diagnosed—can ease their pain and get the answers they need.

Over on The Blossom, we’ve started a new series of storytelling: creative nonfiction by endometriosis patients. Creative nonfiction uses literary styles and techniques to tell a personal story that is rooted in fact and reality. Kelly Sgroi’s flash piece is a powerful example of what it’s like to live with endometriosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Give “The Sleeping Bear” a read.

A new volunteer opportunity to participate in an anonymous research study investigating how COVID-19 and changes in access to reproductive healthcare, including fertility services, are impacting the mental health and well-being of individuals. This study is being conducted by Dr. Lisa Rubin, Deniz Kocas, Ellen Yom, Katrina Hacker, Margaux Genoff Garzon, Samantha Klein, and Tonya Pavlenko in the Department of Psychology at The New School.

Do you have a birthday coming up? Celebrate with EndoFound! Click here to set up your Facebook birthday fundraiser. From birthday fundraisers on Facebook to running 5Ks, you make it happen. With your help, we can continue working towards increasing endometriosis awareness, education, advocacy, and research. Thank you to everyone across the country who has fundraised in support of endometriosis!

Follow the EndoFound on social media and be the first to hear about new research, program updates, or different ways to get involved. Our platforms provide a safe and supportive environment to connect people from around the world. Please visit our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and give us any feedback you may have by commenting on our posts or direct messaging us!

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Disclaimer: The information contained on the Endometriosis Foundation of America ("EndoFound") web site and social media is provided for your general information only. EndoFound does not give medical advice or engage in the practice of medicine. The EndoFound under no circumstances recommends particular treatment for specific individuals and in all cases recommends that you consult your physician or local treatment center before pursuing any course of treatment.

References to any entity, product, service, or source of information not related to the EndoFound in this site should not be considered an endorsement, either direct or implied, by the Endometriosis Foundation of America. The EndoFound does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, products, procedures, opinions or other information that may be provided on any linked web sites. The linked web sites may contain text, graphics, images or information that you find offensive. EndoFound has no control over and accepts no responsibility for such materials.

We hope that you find endofound.org useful in providing information and in helping you make your own health care decisions.