Wulf Women | Endometriosis Resources & Healing Support

You are not alone

Too many of us have been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told our pain is "just part of being a woman."

Knowledge is power- and when we work to understand Endometriosis, we reclaim our voice. We learn how to advocate for ourselves in a system that has failed too many.

Wulf Women exists to give you truth, resources, community, and the confidence to demand real care.

Together, we will stand up and demand the care we deserve.

Delayed Diagnosis

On average, it takes 7–10 years to get diagnosed with endometriosis.

Impact

Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth worldwide.

Treatment Gap

Most gynecologists are not trained in diagnosis or excision surgery, the gold standard for treatment.

Getting answers shouldn’t take a decade.

FAQ

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease where tissue grows in places it doesn’t belong. It can attach to organs like the ovaries, bowel, bladder, and even areas far beyond the pelvis. These lesions can cause pain, inflammation, scarring, and a wide range of symptoms that affect the entire body, not just the reproductive system.

To learn more about how endometriosis develops, the different types, and why it can impact so many areas of the body, visit the What Is Endo page on this website.

Adenomyosis happens when tissue resembling endometriosis grows into the muscle wall of the uterus. It can cause heavy bleeding, severe cramps, and bloating. It’s different from endometriosis and requires its own treatment approach. Adenomyosis is best managed by an expert who understands both conditions.

Endometriosis can grow almost anywhere in the body. It most often affects the pelvic area, including the ovaries, bladder, bowel, and surrounding ligaments and nerves, but it has also been found on the diaphragm, appendix, abdominal wall, and even the heart, brain, eyes, legs, and toes.

Endometriosis is a whole-body inflammatory disease, not just a reproductive one. It is not just tissue that grows- it also impacts hormones, immune cells, histamines, and more.

Endo can impact women of all ages, including before your first period and after menopause.

Because most doctors aren’t trained to recognize it. Endometriosis symptoms are often mistaken for painful periods, IBS, bladder issues, or even anxiety. Many providers still believe it only affects the reproductive system or can always be seen on imaging, which isn’t true. As a result, patients are frequently dismissed or misdiagnosed for years. The average delay in diagnosis is 7 to 10 years, but finding an endometriosis specialist can drastically shorten that timeline and lead to proper care much sooner.

No. Removing the uterus does not cure endometriosis because the disease grows outside the uterus. A hysterectomy may relieve symptoms caused by adenomyosis, which affects the uterus itself, but endometriosis must be surgically excised by an expert who is trained to remove disease from all affected areas.

No. Removing the ovaries is not effective if there is disease growing on other parts of the body. Some doctors will remove ovaries in hopes of starving the Endo of the Estrogen it is fed by. Endo creates its own Estrogen, so if there is disease left behind in the surgery, this is often ineffective and can cause more harm than good.

No. Birth control doesn’t cure endometriosis, and for some people, certain estrogen-heavy types can actually make symptoms worse. Hormonal suppression may reduce pain, but it doesn’t remove the disease from the body. Endometriosis lesions are active tissue that can still grow and cause inflammation even when hormones are managed.

Results of using hormonal treatment to manage symptoms can vary widely depending on the patient and the treatment type.

Sometimes, but not always. Imaging can detect certain types of endometriosis, like large ovarian endometriomas (cysts) or deep disease in specific areas, but most lesions are too small or hidden to show up. A normal scan does not mean you don’t have endometriosis. Diagnosis still relies on an expert evaluation and, if needed, surgical confirmation by a skilled excision specialist.

Endometriosis is a complex, whole-body disease that can affect multiple organs and systems. It’s not limited to the uterus or ovaries, which means it often goes far beyond what most gynecologists are trained to treat. True specialists have the advanced surgical skills, technology, and experience needed to identify and remove disease safely from all affected areas. Without that level of expertise, endometriosis is often missed, left behind, or treated superficially, leading to ongoing pain and repeat surgeries.

An endometriosis excision specialist is a surgeon with advanced training and experience in identifying and removing the disease from all affected areas of the body. Excision means cutting out the lesions completely rather than burning or “ablating” the surface. These specialists typically treat endometriosis and related conditions full-time, rather than offering it as a side service while focusing on general gynecology or obstetrics. They often work with multidisciplinary teams to address disease on organs like the bowel, bladder, and diaphragm, since endometriosis can spread beyond the reproductive system.

Finding the right specialist can take time, but it’s one of the most important steps toward real healing. Start by reviewing trusted directories such as iCareBetter or Nancy’s Nook, and take time to research each surgeon’s experience and approach. Look for doctors who focus on endometriosis full-time, use excision (not ablation), and have experience treating deep disease across multiple organs.

You can visit the Find a Specialist page on this site for detailed steps, questions to ask, and links to more resources.

It can, and many women with endometriosis end up needing repeat surgeries throughout their lives. This often happens when the disease isn’t fully removed the first time, or when other conditions like adenomyosis are also present. True recurrence is much less likely when surgery is performed by a skilled excision specialist who treats endometriosis full-time. Supporting your body afterward through anti-inflammatory lifestyle choices can also help lower the chances of symptoms returning.

Excision and ablation are two very different surgical techniques for treating endometriosis. Excision means cutting out the disease from its root, while ablation means burning or cauterizing the surface. Excision allows the surgeon to remove the entire lesion and check the tissue under a microscope, which gives the best chance for long-term relief. Ablation often leaves disease behind, which is why symptoms can quickly return.

You’re not alone

Endometriosis is one of the most common chronic diseases, yet it is not widely understood in the medical community.

Advocacy matters

Learning to ask the right questions can change your path to treatment.

Hope is real

With the right care, many people find relief and a better quality of life.

“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”
-Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book

Women in pain deserve answers