Halifax nursing students hope to raise awareness for endometriosis with film screening

Two Dalhousie nursing students chat about an upcoming screening and panel discussion that will raise funds for a women's health initiative.

Nursing students at Halifax’s Dalhousie University are hosting a film screening next week with the goal of raising awareness for an often-painful condition.

Endometriosis affects one-in-10 girls and women in Canada and is frequently misdiagnosed, which can lead to serious health conditions, like infertility.

Dalhousie’s nursing society and the organization “Endo What?” are teaming up to host a screening of the documentary “Below the Belt,” followed by a panel discussion on women’s health.

Community endometriosis advocate and nursing student Lauren Rogerson was diagnosed with a condition similar to endometriosis when she was younger.

“I went years and years without an answer, my life was severely impacted and once I finally found that answer and that validation that it wasn’t all just in my head, that my symptoms were real and that it had a name, it really made me reach out to see the greater community that is dealing with this severe disease and how common it is and yet its so under talked about and undertreated,” she said.

Endometriosis itself involves uterine tissue growing outside the uterus, creating painful lesions.

“But it doesn’t just impact the reproductive system, it impacts the entire body, causing full systemic systems,” Rogerson said.

“There’s difficulty diagnosing and treating, and so even in the Maritimes it can be challenging to find that proper treatment for each individual.”

The screening and panel discussion will also serve as a fundraiser for the Orchid Women’s Health Initiative, which raises funds for women’s gynecologic oncology at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.

Dalhousie Orchid Women’s Health Initiative founder and nursing student Mallory Matlock says the film is important for everyone, not just health-care professionals.

“We want to educate people on endometriosis and show them what these symptoms look like, how they can present, how they can effect peoples’ lives,” she said.

The event’s panel will consist of doctors, nurses, and pelvic health physiotherapists.

“They’re going to talk about their role as health-care professionals and their role impacting women’s health in Nova Scotia. We’ll touch on endometriosis and some other ways they impact women’s health,” Matlock said.

The future nurse says she wants to be an advocate for everyone she will encounter in her line of work.

“Especially women. Like endometriosis is so underdiagnosed, I want to be there being able to advocate for them, raising awareness and just showing my support and love for these women,” she said.

The “Below the Belt” screening starts at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 26 at the McCain Arts Centre and is open to the public.

“We highly recommend future and current professionals, anyone in the community that has endometriosis, that knows someone with endometriosis, anyone who’s just interested in looking to support women’s health in Nova Scotia, is welcome to come,” Rogerson said.

Tickets are $20 and are available in advance or at the door.

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