Endometriosis Awareness Month: Are You Aware of These Five Myths?

March 5, 2026

Written By: Betsy Aniol, Crescent Moon Advanced Clinical Intern

March is Endometriosis awareness month. You may be asking, what is endometriosis? So glad you asked!

“Endometriosis (en-doe-me-tree-O-sis), “Endo” for short, is an often-painful condition in which tissue that is similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It often affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis. Rarely, endometriosis growths may be found beyond the area where pelvic organs are located.”¹

In this this months blog post, we want to “debunk” some myths about Endometriosis:

MYTH: Endometriosis is just painful periods.

Endometriosis can cause pain at all points of the menstrual cycle and often intensifies pain experienced with periods. Pain with sex, bowel movements and urination are also common, within or outside of periods. Intensity and severity of endometriosis symptoms affect each person differently, but individuals with endometriosis often have their quality of life impacted by the chronic pain.¹

MYTH: Endometriosis only affects people who have a uterus.

Although much more common in people designated female at birth, there have been 16 documented cases in people designated male at birth. There is little research on endometriosis, even less so in people without a uterus. Endometriosis can develop with or without a uterus – prolonged exposure to estrogen therapy is thought to be the main risk factor for individuals without a uterus.²

MYTH: Endometriosis can be cured through pregnancy or a hysterectomy.

While thought to be a cure in the past, this is not true. Endometriosis exists outside of the uterus rather than within it and lesions can be found all over different parts of the body – on or around the diaphragm, bladder, appendix, bowel, rectum, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Neither pregnancy nor removal of the uterus does anything to those organs that could allow the body to remove the endometrial tissue.²

MYTH: Endometriosis means you will never be able to conceive.

Endometriosis does come with complications for fertility, with roughly 50% of people with endometriosis struggling to conceive.¹ Endometriosis affects everyone’s organs differently. For some, in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be a better option if endometriosis is not affecting the ovaries.³

MYTH: Endometriosis will go away with menopause.

Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Endometriosis is a progressive disease (yale), which means its effects can get worse over time. While the drop in estrogen associated with menopause may provide some symptom relief, the severity of endometriosis is not necessarily reflected by degree of discomfort.⁴ Roughly 4% of people with endometriosis experience a return in or continuation of endometriosis symptoms after menopause.⁵

Common Symptoms of Endometriosis⁶

Pelvic pain
Pain with vaginal penetration
Gastrointestinal issues/pain
Bladder issues/pain
Fertility struggles
Fatigue

How do I get tested?

Currently, the only way to be diagnosed with endometriosis is to undergo laparoscopic surgery. This surgery is non-invasive and involves 2-3 small incisions through which a laparascope, a type of surgical camera, is inserted. If any affected tissue is found during the procedure, it will typically be removed. Recovery experiences vary from person to person but it typically takes around two weeks for people to feel comfortable returning to their typical routines. Detailed post-operative instructions and restrictions are included and reviewed prior to the operation.⁷

Looking for resources?

The American End of Endo Project provides a directory for individuals to find physicians specializing in endometriosis surgery at https://endofendoproject.org/physician-directory/. If you struggle with painful periods or suspect you may have Endometriosis, consult with a trusted healthcare provider for further steps. Remember that you can always seek second opinions if you believe a doctor is not taking your concerns seriously.

For more information on Endometriosis, please see the sources listed at the end of this article or visit https://endometriosis.org/.