Summary: “Women with endometriosis are some of the bravest people in the world,” proclaims Leah Hechtman. She is a leading researcher and clinician on the front lines of endometriosis research and treatment. In this episode Leah and I discuss the complex and painful condition that is affecting millions of women. Although endometriosis is more prevalent than diabetes it is still often misdiagnosed, misunderstood and often dismissed by the medical community. We talk about the struggles women face from being brushed off to given only extremely invasive treatment options. Leah spends her time and energy learning about the complexity of this conditions. Many still view endometriosis as a reproductive condition but (from her experience) she sees it as a multi-systemic disorder involving the immune system and often involving co-infections. We discuss the way that it is (often) assessed and treated & how that never gets to the root of the problem and often contributes to scarring and more severe hormonal imbalances. In this interview, Leah discusses her unique approach and gives practical lifestyle and dietary tips to help women manage pain and maintain their health that can really support them and make a difference in the quality of life.
