This is Infertility is a bi-weekly podcast where we fuse narrative storytelling with experience and science to give you a new perspective on what it’s really like to go through a family building journey. Each episode dives into the emotional, physical, and financial burdens carried by those who experience infertility on their path to parenthood. Be it IVF, IUI, egg freezing, surrogacy, adoption, etc., the path is never the same and it can be long, painful, and lonely. It’s our mission to give those struggling a platform to be heard, a community connection, and an opportunity to raise awareness of the 1 in 8 who, for many reasons, struggle with infertility.

Episode 64: Endometriosis and Fertility: The Purpose of the Endometriosis Foundation of America

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis is a common condition that is often extremely painful, hard to diagnose, and can affect a woman’s fertility. This year, we’re back with a special series to bring awareness to this disease. 

In the first episode, we hear from Dr. Tamer Seckin, a world-renowned endometriosis specialist and surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. He’s also the co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound), a powerful non-profit that strives to increase awareness, advocacy, surgical training, and research for the disease.  

Dr. Seckin sheds light on the causes, symptoms and treatment for endometriosis and what his team at EndoFound are doing to improve the lives of women that suffer from endometriosis, both current and future.  

Expert: Dr. Tamer Seckin, co-founder of Endometriosis Foundation of America  

Host: Dr. Georgia Witkin, Head of Patient Services Development at Progyny 

In case you’ve missed it, here are past episodes we’ve released on endometriosis: 

For more information visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Endometriosis Foundation of America.  

To learn more about endometriosis, check out Progyny’s What is Endometriosis Infographic. 

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.  

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.  

Here are some highlights from this episode:  

The History of Endometriosis
3:16 – 6:35 

Dr. Tamar Seckin: It’s important to note that this disease awareness has come a level that it hadn’t previously been. There is more disease awareness and more surgeons treating the disease. Until the mid– 1990’s, there were serious chapters still in medical books called “psychosomatic gynecology” in other words, pelvic pain was considered “in your head” until recently.  

Endometriosis Foundation of America
12:27—14:40

Dr. Georgia Witkin: This brings us to the importance of endometriosis awareness and Dr. Seckin has played an integral role in spreading awareness. He does it through his role with the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound), the first advocacy organization created by a practicing physician.  

Dr. Tamar Seckin: I realized early in life there was a mass group of undiagnosed patients suffering with endometriosis and I found it an obligation to start something that would raise awareness and standardized diagnosis procedures. The key is early diagnosis.  

Dr. Georgia Witkin: The EndoFound’s work has brought such awareness to endometriosis that more women than ever before are being diagnosed, but Dr. Seckin says there is still a lot to be done to improve protocol or these patients.  

Host

Dr. Georgia Witkin, Head of Patient Services Development for Progyny

Dr. Witkin is also an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Ob/Gyn and Reproductive Sciences at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and Director of Psychological Services for RMA of NY. She is the author of 12 acclaimed books, including The Female Stress Survival Guide, The Male Stress Survival Guide, and Stress Relief for Disasters Great and Small, and is a prolific writer of research articles about women, stress, and reproductive medicine. She has been honored by the AIA, AFA, Resolve, and City of Hope. She has also served as a health reporter/host for CNBC, WNBC, and the Fox News Channel, and has been featured as a guest expert on 20/20, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and CNN. 

Guests

Dr. Tamer Seckin, MD, FACOG, board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Laparoscopic Surgeon, and Co-Founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America

Dr. Seckin is an endometriosis specialist and surgeon in private practice in New York at Lenox Hill Hospital. He specializes in advanced laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of endometriosis and associated pelvic pain pathologies. He has pioneered several surgical techniques including the deep excision of endometriosis, bloodless myomectomy for the treatment of fibroids, and advances in the visualization of endometriosis during surgery.  

In 2009, Dr. Seckin founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound), the first advocacy foundation organized by a practicing physician to raise awareness and emphasize the critical value of early diagnosis and excisional treatment of endometriosis. 

Dr. Seckin has developed and patented various surgical instruments for the excision of endometriosis. 
He has written and contributed to publications, medical journals, and textbooks on the topic of endometriosis and minimally invasive gynecological surgery. He is also the author of The Doctor Will See You Now: Recognizing and Treating Endometriosis published March 2016 and is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his work with the EndoFound. 

Music From This Episode:

Artist: Jahzzar
Track: Joke
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ 

Artist: Monplaisir
Track: A Good Start
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ 

Track: Brotherhood
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/
Artist: TRG Banks 

Track: Christmas lights
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ 

Artist: Loyalty Freak Music
Track: Harsh Love
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ 

Artist: Meydan
Track: Underwater
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/