You Might Also Like: Finding Flow

**Samantha Skey** (0:00)
This episode of Finding Flow was independently produced by SHE Media with support from Sumitomo Pharma.

**Jennifer Sears** (0:15)
We have a strong community of women and men who are partnering with us, and we don't have to be identified by this invisible disease. This does not define us, this does not make up who we are.
This is a part of our story, but it is not the story.

**Samantha Skey** (0:32)
Flow, we all find moments of it and it's different for everybody. It's when we are completely immersed in an activity that is both challenging and enjoyable so much so that we lose track of time.
We started this podcast in hopes that we can share the stories and the science of Flow, and we hope that with this podcast, you find yours.
I'm Samantha Skey, founder of SHE Media and this is Finding Flow. We discuss topics that are historically under-researched and overlooked when it comes to women's health. The health of our bodies influences our quality of life and our ability to do the activities we love. By uniting storytelling and science, we bring clarity to some of these underrepresented areas of women's health.
Today, we turn our focus to endometriosis, a disease that is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Endometriosis happens when tissue similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. Its symptoms are wide-ranging, but most often cause extremely painful menstrual cycles. One in ten women are affected, and it has a trickle-down effect on their overall health. It can cause cysts, inflammation, and scar tissue. If left untreated, it can cause discomfort during sex, influence a woman's fertility, and result in larger health problems. I was diagnosed with endometriosis, as were today's guests and guest expert. I'm looking forward to our conversation and learning from both of them, who will help demonstrate the wide range of experiences endometriosis can have on someone. I'm always interested in learning how the medical world is evolving when it comes to treatment and outcomes, and where it still needs to develop in the future. Which leads me to our incredible guest who is going to walk us through her flow moment in the face of her endometriosis diagnosis. Please help me welcome Jennifer Sears, the actress and advocate for endometriosis. You may recognize Jennifer from shows like BET's Divorced Sistas, Owns Greenleaf, Starz BMF, and Fox's The Resident. We are so lucky to have her here with us today. Welcome Jennifer Sears.
It is so lovely to see you. It's already been a joy. And we thank you so much for joining us on Finding Flow.

**Jennifer Sears** (2:49)
It's the best part of what we do.

**Samantha Skey** (2:52)
Jumping right in, we're here to talk about endometriosis, a really tricky disease that afflicts so many, is so often misunderstood. Can you take us way back? You first had feelings that something was wrong.

**Jennifer Sears** (3:07)
I would say I've always had painful cycles.
I started, I got my birth cycle kind of late. In my teenage years, I was 14 I'm a freshman in high school and, you know, I'm involved in all of these sports, in all of these activities. I was a cheerleader, I ran track, all of the things that you don't want to flash people with.

**Nanda Singh** (3:30)
Right, right.

**Jennifer Sears** (3:31)
With painful periods. Oh, gosh, you're right.

**Samantha Skey** (3:33)
I hadn't thought of that element. Yes, those are very body conscious. Right.

**Jennifer Sears** (3:37)
And you're in a time where you're learning your body, you're starting to blossom into a woman. Everything is weird and new to you.
And so I get my cycle and I've always heard and I know that, you know, from other women's experiences, periods suck, you know.

**Samantha Skey** (3:54)
Yeah, it's not our first choice of things to have, right?

**Jennifer Sears** (3:56)
Right, it's not something we would sign up for. It was so painful for me that I'm like, is this what cycles are supposed to feel like? I didn't have anything, I didn't have a barometer to measure it off of.
And so when I would share my pain level with my mom and my sisters and my aunt, I would say, is this normal? And they say, oh yeah, periods, they are painful, cramps suck. And so, you know, at that time we would, you know, they would give me whatever medicine, over the counter, would supposedly alleviate my pain, but it wasn't doing anything.

**Samantha Skey** (4:29)
And was this right away that you started? It was right away. Wow, so right away it was painful?

**Jennifer Sears** (4:32)
Immediately it was painful. And it was the duration of the cycle. It was not like, oh, my first couple of days are-