Endometriosis is more than just experiencing painful periods: For those suffering, it’s a complicated chronic disease that influences every aspect of their life. Endometriosis affects one in 10 women and girls worldwide and it takes an average of 7.5 years to even be diagnosed.
Jessica Murnane is one of the 190 million women living with endometriosis. Ever since she started menstruating, she’s experienced symptoms such as urinary and gastrointestinal issues. For years, she’s visited numerous physicians, just to be told that her symptoms were her own fault. It wasn’t until about 16 years ago when she was 28 that she was officially diagnosed with Stage IV endometriosis. Living with endometriosis, Murnane experiences pain and flare-ups on a daily basis.
Jessica Murnane is your new endometriosis BFF. The 44-year-old creative consultant from Charleston, SC, knows a thing or two about endo she has stage IV and has been living with it for over a decade. Murnane began speaking publicly about endometriosis in her 2017 cookbook,
One Part Plant, in which she briefly mentioned how plant-based eating had helped her manage her endo symptoms. What started as a passion project has since grown into an online community called “Know Your Endo” and now, a new book of the same name.
Know Your Endo: An Empowering Guide to Health and Hope with Endometriosis is part practical self-care manual, and part support and advocacy guide for people with endometriosis. Murnane lays out a toolkit for endo warriors (or, as she calls them, her “friendos”) to live and thrive despite the tough mental and physical impacts of endometriosis. She combines scientific research and expert interviews with the real-life voices of people living with endometriosis an