Our ‘Break The Taboo’ campaign is now live, and it’s something we’ve been so excited to launch because it’s very close to our hearts.
It’s been an incredible (and at times, emotional) journey launching this campaign to break the taboo around excess hair because we’re doing it to raise awareness of Endometriosis – something very important to our founder, Helen Quayle.
After being diagnosed with Endometriosis POD and Adenomyosis last year, Helen has been passionate about making a change and raising awareness of the condition. She understands first-hand the impact the disease can have on someone’s life, and it’s the reason why a key part of this campaign is to raise funds and awareness.
But what actually is Endometriosis? We want to use our platform to explore the condition. It’s not often spoken about, but it’s a complex condition that affects an astonishing 1.5million women in the UK.
(Throughout this campaign, LaserHQ is donating £5 from every facial hair and body package sold to Endometriosis UK – the UK’s largest charity supporting those affected by Endometriosis. We’ve used information from the charity’s website in this educational blog. For more information and further resources, please visit: www.endometriosis-uk.org)
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is the name given to the condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body. Each month these cells react in the same way to those in the womb, building up and then breaking down and bleeding. Unlike the cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, this blood has no way to escape.
For anyone menstruating, the body goes through hormonal changes each month. Hormones are naturally released, which cause the lining of the womb to increase in preparation for a fertilized egg. If pregnancy does not occur, this lining will break down and bleed – this is then released from the body as a period.
In Endometriosis, cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb grow elsewhere in the body. These cells react to the menstrual cycle each month and also bleed. However, there is no way for this blood to leave the body. This can cause inflammation, pain and the formation of scar tissue.
Endometriosis can have a significant impact on a person’s life in a number of ways, including chronic pain, fatigue, depression, relationship problems and an inability to conceive. Endometriosis can affect you from puberty to menopause, although the impact may be felt for life.
However, with the right endometriosis treatment, many of these issues can be addressed, and the symptoms of Endometriosis are made more manageable. It’s important to remember that Endometriosis is not an infection, it is not contagious, and it is not cancer.
Endometriosis symptoms and causes
Symptoms can vary in intensity in those with Endometriosis, and the amount of Endometriosis does not always correspond to the amount of pain and discomfort experienced. Not everyone with endometriosis experiences symptoms.
The classic endometriosis symptoms include:
- Painful periods
- Pain during or after sex
- Infertility
- Painful bowel movements
- Fatigue
The actual cause of Endometriosis is unknown. There are several theories about the cause of Endometriosis, but none fully explains why Endometriosis occurs. To read more about the possible causes, please visit: www.endometriosis-uk.org/causes-endometriosis
Getting a diagnosis
According to Endometriosis UK, because Endometriosis manifests itself in various ways and shares symptoms with other conditions, diagnosis can be difficult and often delayed. Recent research shows that there is now an average of 7.5 years between women first seeing a doctor about their symptoms and receiving a firm diagnosis.
Our founder, Helen, knows only too well how difficult it can be to be diagnosed. Helen said: “Everyone’s experience of Endometriosis is different. Painful flare-ups, bloating, mood swings, hot sweats and fatigue were just some of my symptoms that were wrongly diagnosed for many years – often being put down to stress. Until finally, a specialist linked them to my hormones.”
There’s more information about getting a diagnosis on the Endometriosis website, please visit this page here: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/getting-diagnosed-endometriosis
Treatments
Currently, there is no cure for Endometriosis. If you have been diagnosed with Endometriosis, your doctor or specialist should discuss possible endometriosis treatment options with you. The different treatments available for Endometriosis aim to reduce the severity of symptoms and improve the quality of life for a woman living with the condition.
The type of treatment you receive for your Endometriosis should be decided in partnership between you and your healthcare professional. Your healthcare professional will consider many different factors when working out the best endometriosis treatment method for you, such as your age, the severity of Endometriosis you have and the severity of your symptoms. Treatment options available to women with Endometriosis include surgery, hormone treatment and pain relief.
What we’re doing at LaserHQ
We’re committed to continuing to talk about Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), to raise awareness and help more women overcome some of the challenges they’re facing. That’s why, this November, we’re so proud to be launching our first ‘Break The Taboo, At LaserHQ” campaign. It will focus on unwanted facial hair, how it’s nothing to be embarrassed by, and how laser hair removal has helped so many of our clients.
An important element of this campaign is our partnership with Endometriosis UK – the UK’s largest charity supporting those affected by Endometriosis. The charity helps those diagnosed take back control by providing vital support services, reliable information and a supportive community. We’re delighted to announce that we will donate a percentage of our profits to them through our partnership.
LaserHQ packages and fundraising
To launch this campaign, we’ve created bespoke facial and body hair packages, which will be discounted throughout the campaign period (15th November – 5th December 2021). For every package purchased, we will donate £5 to Endometriosis UK (registered charity 1035810).
Our founder Helen said: “We want to do everything we can to spread awareness, and this campaign is just the start. One of our ultimate aims is to get better funding in the NHS. The word is slowly spreading, as MPs are now discussing research funding for Endometriosis and PCOS in Parliament, which is a great step forward. We want to do as much as we can to ensure the word is spread. We need to speak about it, step up, and we all need to pull together.”
How we can help
At LaserHQ, we’re creating literature about Endometriosis and PCOS, showcasing clients’ stories and experiences, running advertising campaigns and hosting live sessions on social media with hormone and skin specialists. We’re also unveiling our fantastic billboards, close to our clinics in Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. We’re going to help guide anyone through the process because we don’t want anyone to feel like they’re going through this alone and don’t know where to turn.
Helen said: “We want to start conversations about it – that’s why our campaign is called Break The Taboo. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I want anyone who might feel scared or embarrassed to come forward and speak to us about it. We’re here to help in any way we can. The aim of this campaign is to let women know that they’re not alone.”
Disclaimer: It’s important to say that this blog is not official medical advice. Please seek medical advice or speak to your GP if you are concerned about any health issues. There are also many resources on our charity partner’s website: Endometriosis UK.
LaserHQ charity fundraising: £5 from every package purchased as part of the campaign will be donated to Endometriosis UK, registered charity 1035810.
