User:Balpi002/EndoWhat

EndoWhat?
EndoWhat? is a powerful film that depicts the misconceptions and struggles of endometriosis. Endometriosis is a disease that affects the uterus and the surrounding pelvic area and can cause excruciating pain. The film invites medical professionals and endometriosis experts in a discussion on how to educate society on this mysterious, but common, disease. It also follows endometriosis in the eyes of those living with the difficult to diagnosed disease. Opening the audience's eyes to a new perspective of dealing with disease, walking hand and hand with those who struggled with finding a diagnosis for a majority of their pain. Furthermore, the documentary corrects many misconceptions regarding endometriosis, fueling the audience with hope and passion.

Background
The documentary was inspired by the director, Shannon McCoy Cohn, who lives with endometriosis since she was a 16 years old. With the support of her husband, Patricio Cohn, she was able to give a voice to be those who are not being heard in the medical community, those who are living with endometriosis, the disease no one knows about. Shannon McCoy has founded, the organization EndoWhat? with Mary Alice Hatch seeking to raise awareness on endometriosis and provide a safe haven for those suffering. Shannon McCoy Cohn is a filmmaker, an activist, and an attorney, practicing in international law. She has helped film award-winning documentaries of Discovery Channel and National Geographic.

Patricio Cohn was the Producer and cinematographer for the film. He has produced and filmed for independent films and features for National Geographic and the Discovery Channel.

Arix Zalace was another producer and was the editor for the film. He has collaborated with  Discovery Channel, Comedy Central, Travel Channel, and History Channel. He opened and owns the production company AZA Productions.

Professional Appearance

 * David Adamson, MD:
 * World Endometriosis Research Foundation (president -  board of trustees)
 * Hugh S. Taylor, MD:
 * Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive sciences; Yale School of Medicine
 * Robert b. Albee jr. MD:
 * Founder Emeritus Center for Endometriosis Care
 * Linda Griffith PhD:
 * Professor of Biological Engineering MIT. Director, MIT center for gynepathology research
 * Douglas Drucker PhD:
 * Clinical psychologist and pain specialist
 * Marc Laufer MD:
 * Chief of gynecology, Boston Children’s Hospita l; Professor Harvard medical school
 * Camran Nezhat MD:
 * Surgeon; endometriosis expert
 * Arnold P. Advincula MD:
 * Vice chair and chief of gynecology Colombia University Medical Center
 * Nancy Petersen RN:
 * Endometriosis expert; Nancy’s nook founder
 * Andrew Cook, MD:
 * Surgeon; expert
 * Amy Day, ND:
 * Naturopathic doctor; women's health expert
 * Pamela Stratton, MD:
 * Chief and principal investigator, endometriosis studies. National Institute of Health and Human Development
 * Mao Shing Ni, Phd, LAc:
 * Doctor of Oriental Medicine
 * Sallie Aarrel PT:
 * Physical therapist
 * Mary Lou Ballweg:
 * President/executive direction endometriosis association
 * Stella Capek PhD:
 * Professor of sociology
 * Tamer Seckin MD:
 * Cofounder endometriosis foundation of America endo expert
 * Esther Eisenberg MD:
 * Professor of obstetrics and gynecology Vanderbilt University
 * Todd Deutch MD:
 * Reproductive endocrinologist
 * Amy Stein PT:
 * Owner/founder beyond basics PT author of heal pelvic pain
 * Kaylon Bruner-Tran, PhD:
 * Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Asst. Prof of Gynecology
 * Karen Roth, MS, NC:
 * Nutritionist

Endometriosis
The film opens up with medical background on endometriosis. The chronic disease affects the uterus. It is a systemic disease that occurs when there is tissue which is similar to the lining of the uterus is found elsewhere in the body. This misplacement of tissue can be very painful and may cause organ dysfunction. It is usually found in the pelvis, but can also appear on the bladder, bowels, lungs, diaphragm, and in some cases the brain. Symptoms can be but are not limited to: painful menstruation, intercourse, bowel movements and urination, excessive bleeding and infertility. This part of the film emphasizes on the misdiagnosis of the disease and the little research being done on treatment and diagnosis. Research is mentioned to be focusing on finding the molecular basis of endometriosis, trying to find a treatment that removes endometriosis and does not use hormonal therapy. Doctors are also putting their opinions on the misdiagnosis and treatment on the disease, stating that it can cause a person suffering from endometriosis to be without diagnosis, wondering in the dark, 8 to 10 years.

"Pain is not normal"
It is emphasized in the second portion of the film the harm that can be done in the discussion of women and pain. With personal testimonies, sufferers of endometriosis state that they feel pushed aside and unimportant when the severity of their disease on lesion size, not pain. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine use a scale to differentiate severity of endometriosis on a scale of 1 to 4. The people shown in the film say that they would suffer from immense pain, having to be doubled over, immobile, but doctors would turn them away because ultrasounds and tests would show little to no lesions. While other suffered say they felt little pain, but the physical trauma was enormous. This film tries to break down the stigmatization of pain in women by showing the harmful affects of ignorance within the medical community.

Myths
The myths in this film deal with physical misconceptions and societal fear. The myth of fertility was discussed. The filmmakers were determined to discuss that having endometriosis does not equal infertility. Another myth discussed was pain tolerance. Some women were turned away because of the lack of knowledge on endometriosis, suggesting that the pain is "normal" and they will find a way to live with the pain, dialing down the diagnoses to menstruation. The myth that young women do not get endometriosis gets debunked in the film. Another harmful myth that was discussed is that endometriosis is a "career woman's disease." This can cause erasure of the people of color in the community with suffer from endometriosis. A career woman is a wealthy, white woman who do not have children. This causes medical professionals to think that childbearing is the cure to endometriosis. Even though pregnancy can relieve some of the symptoms of endometriosis, it should not be seen as the only treatment available. Hysterectomies are also seen as cures, but there is no solid proof of this.

Treating Endometriosis
Treatment is discussed. Hormonal therapy can be used in the form of birth control to balance estrogen hormones in the body that can drives the inflammatory response in endometriosis. It is the main treatment of endometriosis, focusing on treating symptoms, but curing the disease. Another treatment is surgery, removing of the uterine lining found outside of the uterus. This is done by laparoscopy. The debate in this section emphasizes the need for awareness in the medical community. This surgery needs to be done once and be done right. Many doctors opt to burn the tissue outside the uterus, but this causes scarring and maybe the worsening of symptoms. Then more surgery needs to be done. Physical therapy can also be a treatment. A combination of western and Chinese medicine is also suggested as treatment.

Diet
There is no specific diet for treating endometriosis. However, with the sensitive to hormones, the food that is digested can affect the immune system and cause allergies. Calming the immune system is done by controlling in take of inflammatory foods and foods that can aggravate the tissue of endometriosis. Foods containing mainly sugars can cause inflammation.

Prevalence of Endometriosis
This section discuses the environmental causes of endometriosis. Since estrogen is the main hormone in endometriosis, hormone disrupters disguised as estrogen can worsen symptoms. These hormone disrupters can be dioxin, BPA, phthalates, atrazine, perchlorate, fire retardants, lead, arsenic, mercury, pesticides, and PFCs.

The New York Times
"Shatters the myths surrounding endometriosis."

The Guardian
"Hands down my pick for film of the year because its truth-telling is powerful & inspirational."

NewsWeek
"This film is the first step in a plan to educate & organize for change."

Cosmopolitan
"Gives real, straightforward information to shed the mystery surrounding the disease." ""