Recognizing March as Endometriosis Awareness Month

One in 10 women suffer from endometriosis — that’s over 190 million people worldwide and almost 1500 people at Boise State University.

Despite its prevalence, endometriosis is very misunderstood. 

Endometriosis causes uterine tissue to grow outside the uterus, spreading outside of the uterus into the pelvic region and nearby organs. It’s an extremely painful, life-altering condition.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, a time for those with the condition to share their stories and educate others on the realities of the chronic disease.

Mikayla Thamm, an endometriosis advocate and owner of Oleka Swimwear uses her business to support women’s health research, inspired by her own endometriosis experience.

“I woke up one day with excruciating pain, and I knew it wasn’t normal,” Thamm said. “I went to the doctor, and they found an ovarian cyst the size of a grapefruit caused by endometriosis.”

“I had to get surgery,” Thamm said. “Afterward I researched it and found that there’s very little funding for endometriosis research. I realized that I needed to make a difference.”

Thamm launched Oleka Swimwear in September 2024, selling swimwear made of hormone-friendly materials and donating a portion of proceeds to women’s health research. Through social media, she spreads awareness about endometriosis and other women’s health issues.

“There are so many women that don’t even know that they suffer from this, and their doctors are telling them that it’s normal to have excruciating pain,” Thamm said. “Sorry, but no, it’s not normal.”

Many women with endometriosis report that their healthcare providers, especially male doctors, don’t take them seriously or believe the severity of their pain.

On average, it takes ten years from their first appointment for women with endometriosis to get a diagnosis, according to the Yale School of Medicine.

“A lot of people don’t believe that we’re in as much pain as we say we’re in,” said Avery Preston, a social media endometriosis advocate. 

Preston uses TikTok and Instagram to spread awareness about endometriosis on her accounts @endometriosisisave. She shares her own stories about her stage four endometriosis, inadequate care and medical mistreatment to shed light on the condition.

Preston also shares advice on how to manage symptoms, including while in school. She was diagnosed with endometriosis as a junior in college, and the condition made it difficult for her to attend class and focus on schoolwork.

“It definitely was harder to complete my studies after my symptoms became so severe,” Preston said. “Prior to my endometriosis surgery, I was instructed to take medication, but it made my symptoms much worse. This interfered with my ability to get my work done at school.”

Preston credits much of her academic success to the accommodations she received.

“I reached out to the disability center at my college and asked about accommodations,” Preston said. “I was lucky because getting them was fairly easy. They allowed me to leave class early, do class from home or take bathroom breaks as needed.”

“I truly don’t believe I would have been able to finish my bachelor’s degree without those accommodations,” Preston said. 

At Boise State, students with endometriosis can receive accommodations through the Educational Access Center which ensures that campus is accessible for students with disabilities.

“Every accommodation for students is individualized to them,” said Elyse Taylor, a senior access coordinator at the Educational Access Center.

Access coordinators talk to students about how their disabilities are impacting them to determine if accommodations are a good fit for them. They explore their needs and find the right way to implement the accommodations in their classes.

“I have several students with endometriosis which impacts their classes,” Taylor said. “That’s the very definition of a disability: a diagnosis that impacts major life activities. Education is definitely a major life activity.”

To receive accommodations, students need documentation from a doctor confirming their diagnosis. However, the Educational Access Center recognizes the difficulty of diagnosing endometriosis and also accepts documentation of a suspected diagnosis.

“The fact that they’re working with a medical provider would be the supportive documentation we need,” Taylor said. “We’re not going to stand in the way of access for students who need it.”

People with endometriosis shouldn’t be afraid to seek the support they need. It’s common for those with the condition to convince themselves that their pain is normal, even though it’s not.

“If something feels wrong, there’s probably something wrong,” Thamm said. “Don’t let a doctor tell you that it’s all in your head. Be your own advocate. We need to give women the confidence to stick up for themselves.”

Women’s health is often seen as an uncomfortable topic of conversation, but it shouldn’t be. 

Endometriosis Awareness Month is the perfect time for education and for women with the condition to share their experiences.

“The power of sharing our stories is that it lets people know that they’re not crazy and they’re not making this up,” Thamm said. 

“We need to encourage people to speak up, because your voice should not be silenced,” Thamm said. “There are so many women out there that are struggling, that don’t even know that they have this and are just told that it’s normal.”

One in ten women will receive a diagnosis, but the actual number of people with endometriosis is likely much higher due to gaps in healthcare and education. A disease affecting so much of the population needs more attention and understanding.

So, let’s talk about it. If you’re unfamiliar with endometriosis, take the time to learn about it. If you know someone with endometriosis who’s comfortable sharing, listen to their experiences — and believe them.

If you have endometriosis, don’t be afraid to speak up. Your voice is important, and your words have the power to inspire change. The more we talk about it, we can create a culture where people understand — and believe — women with endometriosis.