Endometriosis Awareness Virtual Events for 2021
March is Endometriosis Awareness month and for me, it’s always a bittersweet time of year. I love to celebrate all the amazing women, educators, coaches, health care providers, and supporters who make Endo a little less awful to live with. That being said, March, in Maine, is one of the most the difficult times of year for me and usually a time where I have triggered flares due to isolation secondary to the cold weather and seasonal exacerbation of underlying mental health conditions. As you can imagine, the global pandemic has only added to these stressors. And I’m finding, more than ever, the need to connect to the community at large.
In case you don’t know, endometriosis is a whole body, inflammatory disease, that effects 1 in 10 individuals born with a uterus*. The hallmark symptom is endometrial tissue growing outside of the uterus. It causes severe pain, sexual dysfunction, incontinence, fatigue, infertility, and so much more. I have a wealth of materials here on the blog (my story, resources, etc) that you can check out here if you want to know more!
[*Why on Earth did I phrase it that way? Because since I started my journey as an endo advocate, I learned that the world of medicine has not included those who are agendered or transgendered in research. Why does that matter? Because anyone with a uterus can be affected by this debilitating disease but their voices and stories are suppressed. This topic is beyond the scope of this post and deserves a dedicated post but if you have questions, let me know! I am happy to share what I have learned and what research I’m seeking out on the subject. ]
If you, or someone you know, is suffering, you’re not alone! And in the golden age of virtual connections, there is no better time than now to find your community online. There are so many events out there but here are some amazing endometriosis centered virtual events I’m planning on attending in 2021!
March 17: MyEndometriosisTeam Online Social [Free] : Connect with other Endo warriors around the world with this virtual endo social hour!
March 19 - 21: Our Table Endo’s Black Advocate and Allies Conference [$10-30]: A jam-packed weekend of amazing advocacy and education. I know that I need to be a better ally for black endo warriors. I’m excited to sit in on these discussions, listen, and learn.
March 19 - 21: EndoFound Patient Day [Free] : A patient-centric conference focused on educating endo warriors on topics ranging from treatment options, to nutrition, to fertility, to mental health.
March 26 - 28: World Endo March Virtual March [Free]: An endo awareness march. Complete your walk/run on your own and participate in the virtual celebration!
March 27: EndoMarch Canada Conference [Free]: A hour-long virtual event and month long virtual 5K to raise awareness around endometriosis.
What Endo Awareness events are you excited for?
