Endometriosis Foundation of Houston

07/18/2026

We've been a little quiet on social media lately... but we're still here. 💛

Over the past few months, we've been focusing our energy where it's been needed most—supporting our community through excision surgeon staffing changes, working behind the scenes, and staying connected with our members in the Houston Area Endometriosis Group.

Advocacy doesn't always happen on social media. Sometimes it happens over coffee, in clinic offices, and yes... occasionally during a pre-op appointment. 😄

Last week, Alison and Etni met with Dr. Guan and his fellow, Dr. Pasternak, to discuss ways to improve the endometriosis patient care experience at Baylor. (We may have hijacked Etni's pre-op appointment just a little! Thanks to Dr Guan, Dr Pasternak, and Valerie for staying late to chat with us after!)

This week, Alison joined Leah from WHRAC to meet with Dr. Shanda Blackmon, Director of the Lung Institute at BCM, to discuss her approach to care for patients with thoracic endometriosis—an often overlooked and underdiagnosed form of the disease.

We're continuing to build relationships, advocate for better care, and work toward meaningful improvements for everyone living with endometriosis in the Houston area.

06/04/2026

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: Please see below.

If interested in participating or if you have questions, please email the student investigator, Natasha Khetan, at [email protected]. Thank you in advance for your consideration!

Research for a study evaluating an educational pamphlet about endometriosis is being conducted through the University of Connecticut.

To be eligible, participants must be women ages 18-22 who have been diagnosed with endometriosis and currently live in the Houston area. Participants will attend one in-person focus group session lasting approximately 90 minutes. During the session, participants will read a short educational pamphlet about endometriosis and share feedback on the pamphlet’s clarity, usefulness, and potential impact based on their personal experiences with endometriosis. Participants will receive a $50 Amazon gift card upon completion of the focus group.

This study aims to determine the efficacy of endometriosis educational materials, improve their quality, and inform future distribution of educational resources in school nurses’ offices across the country. The pamphlet being evaluated was created by Natasha Khetan, a UConn BOLD Scholar, and has been reviewed and approved for medical accuracy by the OB/GYN Department at UConn Health. This research is being conducted in collaboration with EndoRISE and WHRAC (https://www.whrac.org/events).

Session dates (participants only need to attend one session):
• June 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM
• June 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM
• June 18, 2026 at 6:30 PM

Further information:
IRB Protocol #: L25-0538

Upcoming events Endometriosis Educational Pamphlet Focus Groups June 13, 16, & 18, 2026Location: Houston, TXWHRAC is supporting recruitment efforts for a University of Connecticut research study evaluating an educational pamphlet about endometriosis designed for adolescents. Participants must be 18....

03/03/2026

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month 💛

I live with endometriosis and her ugly sister adenomyosis. For years my pain was invisible. The fatigue. The heavy bleeding. The deep aching that wraps around the pelvis and does not let go. The way it steals normal days and replaces them with survival mode.

People often say “it’s just a bad period.” It is not. It is inflammation. It is organs sticking together. It is pain worthy of the ER but you know they won’t help. It is chronic pain that impacts every part of life at all times.

Here is a photo of my MRI (note that endometriosis does not always appear on imaging)
This is what invisible illness looks like when it becomes visible. The adhesions. The proof. The physical evidence of what I have been feeling all along.

No one should need imaging to validate their pain, but for so many of us this is what it takes to be believed.

If you know someone living with endometriosis, believe them the first time. Support them. Be patient with them.

And to everyone fighting this battle quietly, I see you. The pain is real. Even when it cannot be seen, it is there. And we are stronger than we ever wanted to have to be.

What you are seeing:
Enlarged right o***y secondary to a 4 cm endometrioma, with surrounding intrapelvic adhesions.

Areas of intrapelvic adhesions and uterine serosal endometriosis implants, described above suggesting deep infiltrating endometriosis.

💛 - Etni F, EFHou board member

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day to our endo-friendos 💛
Having people in our lives who really "get it" makes the journey easier… but we’re still holding out for better treatment—and a cure.

P.S. Endometriosis is so much more than just a period problem!

12/17/2025

Come out tonight for a great cause! EFHou will be at the Women's Health Research and Action Center holiday social tonight from 6-8 at Velvet Oak Tavern. We'd love to see you there!

WHRAC was founded by one of our local endo friendos, Leah Chapman, to advocate and promote research for Houstonians struggling with fertility, endometriosis, and other related conditions. Come out to connect with other people who 'get it'!

6-8 pm tonight at Velvet Oak Tavern.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DSVNJj9DuDm/?img_index=4&igsh=MXh1c3c1cm11NzFjag==

11/25/2025

Watch endometriosis documentary Below the Belt for free until December 1.
https://watch.showandtell.film/preview/thinkendo?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOR8chjbGNrA5Hxv2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHgRQzlfKonxuscjuNiSaSS-zsriSMmUEiyDY-71hKGJqQPB5fgOh_5O9870w_aem_4Ry_4nowgbbWhOUvB8RzYg

*Below the Belt* is available to stream for free until Dec. 1! 📺

Click here to watch the free screening: https://watch.showandtell.film/preview/thinkendo 🖤

Please feel free to share the link with friends, colleagues, and anyone who may benefit.

Simply watching and sharing the film is already a powerful way to support this work. If you’re in a position to give, donations are optional, and every amount truly helps rewrite the story of endometriosis. More info can be found on the screening page.

Thank you for your support! 🧡

PBS

11/13/2025

Check out this great webinar happening tonight! 7 pm Houston time on Zoom!

Learn how excision surgery and advocacy intersect to improve diagnosis and care for bowel endometriosis.

11/08/2025

Check out this fantastic event from our friends and with colorectal surgeon Dr Punam Amin!

You may recall that Dr Amin did a talk for us earlier this year with endo excision surgeon Dr Brooke Thigpen, so we know it will be a great event!



https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-bowel-endometriosis-from-surgery-to-systemic-change-tickets-1964543318951?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/12/2025

Hi friends! Today is a milestone moment for me, so I wanted to share.

10 years ago, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. 5 years ago, I had excision surgery with Dr Guan. Today, I am dancing in my first performance since endometriosis hit me full force in 2015.

Dance has been a huge part of my life for the last 25 years. Growing up and into my 20s, I breathed ballet. I had the look, the confidence, and the "fake it till you make it" attitude down. And a little talent.

Ballet is probably what made me really good at masking my pain since that's what dancers do day in and day out. Endo is DEFINITELY worse than pointe shoes, though.

I returned to dance 3 years ago. Endo took a lot from me--my confidence and trust in my body being front and center--but I'm finally reclaiming a crucial piece of myself. Tonight, at the ripe age of 37, I'm stepping into my first professional dance performance--as the only non-professional dancer on the stage.

It's a small role, but I'm so happy to be able to do it. And extremely nervous!

If you aren't doing anything tonight, I'd love to see you there. A few other endo friendos have already bought tickets and there will be a small reception after the show.

If you'd like to come, here's the info. You can use code Friendsandfamily for $10 off each ticket. https://matchouston.org/events/2025/obsession

Endo is awful. It takes a lot from us, and it takes so much to recover from it, but it is possible. My role in this show is sort of the holder of hope for the other dancers as they journey through struggle and moments of despair. I hope that I--and Endometriosis Foundation of Houston--can help you reclaim that hope.

07/16/2025