Telling your loved one about endometriosis

 When it comes to starting a new relationship, there is something I always dread. Telling my partner about endometriosis, and while this post isn't just about telling your partner about your endometriosis but any loved on this post will defiantly help you navigate having to tell that special person in your life about your illness.

So how do you communicate about living with endometriosis?

• Learn more about endometriosis: this way, you can give real information to whoever you are talking to without spreading misinformation.

• Talk about how it affects you personally: Everyone suffers differently, so telling the person how it affects you can make it easier for them to understand; they may have noticed some things like you being more tired randomly or bloating up. This will help them connect your diagnosis to symptoms. 

• Timing: Timing is everything. My partner will lay down in bed, can be having a conversation, and will be fast asleep seconds later and not remember a thing we talked about an hour before he went to sleep. Finding a time when no one is distracted and you both can focus on the conversation at hand will limit confusion. 

• Questions: Your loved one will probably have questions by the end of the conversation, and they may even feel a little too personal. Being prepared for this will help the awkwardness of talking about the female issues and also help you best answer anything they are wondering.

• Be open and honest: We all know plans can randomly be interrupted because of endometriosis, so be open with who you are talking with and explain that. If you experience pain during sex and you are telling a new or potential partner to be open that sex can be painful at times, and you may need to stop or change how things are happening in the bedroom to limit pain. 

• Be supportive: While you have to experience the pain and hardship of the condition, do remember those around you are having to watch someone they care about hurting as well as plans being cancelled, intimacy issues, and they also have to put up with our emotions taking over because we can't control them in pain. Be supportive of how they are feeling about everything and respect that they may need to leave you at home (If it's safe) to get a breather and to calm down.