Laken Brooks

Douching involves inserting water, soaps, body washes, or other cleansing products into the vagina. Advertisements for douche products show women bathing under crisp waterfalls or plucking bouquets of wildflowers. In...

"I haven't seen you around the office recently! Were you on vacation?" My coworker greeted me during lunch when I returned to the office. "No," I responded. "I wasn't feeling...

When I last visited the gynecologist, I waited for my doctor in the exam room. On the door, I saw a poster. "How are you feeling?" the sign read. It...

When I read about how meditation can help some people manage chronic pain, I was dubious. After a month of meditation, I have not 'cured' my ADHD or my endometriosis...

Many people with endometriosis struggle with infertility. When I realized that I experienced some of these challenges, I mourned. I wondered why I was sad because I had never planned to...

Last week, I was jamming to Taylor Swift's new album as I surveyed the adult diaper aisle at the grocery store. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed...

A couple of years ago, I decided to convert to Judaism. As I learned more about the faith, I remained confused by Hanukkah. I understood that the holiday symbolizes endurance...

When I was eleven years old, I sat on my bed, hugging my stomach and hoping my period cramps would disappear. I was (and still am) a voracious reader. I...

On a day in early November, I watched out my window as the sky darkened and the wind battered the trees. Hurricane Nicole was approaching my Florida home. I had...

As I write this, I am on my period. My back aches and my stomach hurts. During these flare-ups, I can't help but think about how endometriosis has impacted my...

Many people know that endometriosis is a painful condition. When I was diagnosed with endometriosis, I wondered how the chronic illness would impact my emotional and physical well-being. However, the...

A couple of weeks after I moved out of home, flush with the excitement of going to college, I faced an unexpected obstacle: blood stains. I knew how to do...

When I woke up last Monday morning, I could already tell it would be a bad day. I had bled through my pajamas during the night; my cramps made me...

For some, a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device might be a drug-free alternative to alleviate endometriosis discomfort. Laken describes the methods in which she used her TENS device and...

When my period symptoms became worse, my sleep cycle began changing, too. I had trouble sleeping through the night. I had trouble waking up when the morning rolled up on...

When you think about video games, you probably think of power-ups instead of periods. After all, only 21% of video game protagonists are women characters. But 45% of gamers are...

When I am having an endo flare, my abdomen isn't the only thing that hurts. Endometriosis can impact my entire body, including my brain. Some of my excellent colleagues have...

Content warning: this article discusses controlling partners, financial abuse, and other abusive behaviors. Please read with care. If you think you or a loved one may be in an abusive...

It is pride month and people around the world are celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Unfortunately, some doctors continue to ignore transgender, nonbinary, and queer people who have endometriosis. I was...

If you have endometriosis, you’ve probably heard many coping suggestions. When I first realized I had endo, I remember being overwhelmed by Facebook comments and text messages suggesting everything from...