I was diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 18 after having blood clots in my lungs (a side effect of the birth control pills prescribed to manage, what we now know was, my endometriosis pain). I am running for team Endo because I have first-hand experience with the physical pain and disabling daily impacts of endometriosis, and I want to help raise awareness and funding for a disease that is significantly under-funded despite impacting so many women.

Endometriosis affects 7 million women in the US and 200 million worldwide. The disease is a leading cause of infertility and often goes undiagnosed for 7-10 years. For years, doctors have been taught that getting pregnant or having a hysterectomy were the best options for women with this condition. This is incorrect. Treatment and management of endometriosis is possible. Despite the large number of women affected, the federal government only sets aside ~$1 per diagnosed patient for research each year. This makes financial support for people with endometriosis critical.