This month our blog posts are dedicated to different aspects of endometriosis because March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Last week we covered 7 FAQs about endometriosis, while this week we’re busting common myths and misconceptions about the disease!

1) Is Endometriosis cancer?

Endometriosis is not cancer. Cancer is when abnormal tissue grows and invades organs, however unlike cancer endometriosis isn’t fatal if not treated, although it can cause pain and other complications. Although very rare, some types of endometriosis that form large cysts can result in the cysts becoming cancerous.

2) It only impacts the pelvic region

Endometriosis is a FULL body disease, not only a pelvic disease. As mentioned in last week’s blog post endometriosis can also be found by the lungs, kidneys, diaphragm and in some cases even the brain.

3) Endometriosis is always painful

Although endometriosis is mostly associated with severe chronic pain, not all endometriosis cases are painful and experience pain at this level. A key symptom to endometriosis is extremely painful periods, but it’s not the ONLY symptom. Some people might have other symptoms for years and only find out they have endometriosis if they try to conceive but find out they’re infertile.

4) It doesn’t impact young people

Endometriosis can affect teens and even pre-teens too. It’s not a disease that only appears in the late twenties, early thirties or forties. If a teen or pre-teen is having severe period pain consistently and treatment options like birth control or pain medication doesn’t help, then endometriosis could be the cause.

5) Removing the ovaries or uterus will end endometriosis

There’s a widespread misconception (even by some doctors) that endometriosis is just a reproductive disease. But, as myth number 2 points out it’s a FULL body disease. So, because of this misconception a lot of people believe that if someone has a hysterectomy they will no longer have endometriosis. This is not true, because there’s no guarantee it will stay away after removing the uterus or ovaries.