San Diego Wellness Specialists Unite to Shine a Light on Endometriosis

For millions of women, endometriosis is a condition marked not only by chronic pain, fatigue, and fertility challenges, but by years of dismissal and delayed diagnosis. In San Diego, a dedicated collective of specialists is working to shatter that narrative. On Saturday, February 7, local San Diego endometriosis specialists will come together in Mission Valley for Endo Wellness Day, a half-day retreat designed for women navigating endometriosis to connect with fellow “endo warriors,” participate in gentle healing sessions, gain clarity around symptoms, and leave with practical tools they can begin using immediately.

Despite its prevalence, endometriosis remains widely misunderstood. It is a systemic, inflammatory disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus. These lesions act like the uterine lining by thickening, breaking down, and bleeding with each menstrual cycle. However, because this blood has no way to exit the body, it becomes trapped, leading to internal bleeding, inflammation, and the formation of scar tissue or adhesions that can fuse organs together.

While it is often associated with "bad periods," the medical community now recognizes it as a complex disease that can affect the bowel, bladder, and in rare cases, even the lungs. It is definitively linked to autoimmune issues and chronic pain syndromes, making a multi-disciplinary approach to care essential.

Despite the physiological severity of the condition, a staggering "diagnostic gap" persists, leaving many women to navigate these complex symptoms in a vacuum of misinformation. The Endo Wellness Day retreat, founded by functional nutritionist Alyssa Chavez of Aligned to Rise, is a direct response to this diagnostic gap and her own journey of seeking support. After an eight-year battle with infertility and pain so severe she was often "couch or bed bound," Chavez found her turning point through a combination of excision surgery and functional lifestyle shifts.

"I ended up being able to get to the point of having completely pain free periods, which I never thought was possible," Chavez shares. "And then finally, I ended up being able to conceive naturally after about eight years of infertility." Now, she is dedicated to helping local women realize that the disease, which affects an estimated 89 million women worldwide, does not have to be a "life sentence."

“We're kind of led to understand that endometriosis is only going to just progress and get worse over time,” she notes. But that isn’t always the case. “There’s actually a lot of research showing that endometriosis can progress, but it can also kind of stay steady or can even regress.”

Among the practitioners joining Chavez at Endo Wellness Day is Dr. Jandra Mueller of SHEFit Physical Therapy, who brings both clinical expertise and lived experience. Even as a trained medical professional, Dr. Mueller found herself trapped in the same cycle of clinical dismissal that many of her patients face.

“Living with endometriosis fundamentally shaped how I practice,” Mueller says, “because it showed me how hard this disease is to navigate, even with medical training. Despite access to resources, it still took years to get clear answers. That experience made it impossible to ignore how often patients are dismissed, misinformed, or left with incomplete care.” 

Because of this, Dr. Mueller is on a mission to dispel the myth that pelvic physical therapy is a narrow specialty reserved for postpartum care or bladder issues. Instead, she views it as a mandatory pillar of endo treatment and recovery. “Physical therapy is essential for nearly everyone with endometriosis, even when surgery or hormones are involved,” Mueller explains. “Pelvic floor physical therapy isn’t just about fixing a muscle; it’s about restoring whole-body function. I strongly believe every patient should be evaluated post-operatively, even if they don’t think they have symptoms.”

That whole-body philosophy is echoed by Dr. Sheri DeSchaaf, founder of SHEFit Physical Therapy in Mission Valley. She explains that while endo may begin as an organic disease, it quickly transforms into a musculoskeletal crisis. “Endometriosis doesn’t just affect pelvic organs—it disrupts the entire body system,” DeSchaaf says.

According to Dr. DeSchaaf, the body’s natural reaction to internal inflammation is to "guard," a reflex that eventually rewires how a woman moves and breathes. “Over time, the body adapts to chronic pain with altered posture, muscle guarding, and an upregulated nervous system, which spreads pain beyond the pelvis into the abdomen, back, hips, and ribs,” DeSchaaf explains. “A thorough physical therapy plan will address all the regions of the body that have been impacted by this process, and that is why we cannot only look at the pelvis in treating this condition.”

The event also includes Eastern medicine perspectives, with Dr. Erica Albanese and Dr. Kristina Kahveciyan of Be + Well Acupuncture who will share insights from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its focus on the body’s energetic and inflammatory patterns. 

"In Traditional Chinese Medicine, endometriosis isn’t treated as one single disease label," says Dr. Marisa Blume, clinic director at Be + Well Acupuncture. "We view the body as an interconnected system—mind, physical body, and spirit—and diagnose patterns based on the whole picture."

Acupuncture serves as a helpful tool to help alleviate chronic pain and address the root cause of common symptoms of endometriosis. “While many endo patients struggle with pain, the root pattern underneath that pain can vary,” shares Dr. Blume. “Common underlying patterns may include Kidney deficiency, Liver Qi stagnation, or cold accumulation, among others. That’s why it’s important to seek care that specializes in diagnosing and treating these patterns, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.”

By improving circulation and releasing protective tension in the abdomen and hips, acupuncture can alleviate pain and inflammation, reduce flare-up intensity and support hormonal regulation.

Endo Wellness Day also features Dr. Chandra Spring-Robinson, DO, FACOG of United Medical Doctors, one of San Diego’s leading endometriosis surgeons, who will address the clinical "gold standard" of care: laparoscopic excision surgery. Her participation highlights the importance of an integrated approach, where surgery, nutrition, physical therapy, and TCM work in tandem rather than in silos.

The ultimate goal of Endo Wellness Day is to replace hopelessness with a practical toolkit. As the specialists prepare to welcome the San Diego community, the message is clear: the one in ten women suffering are not broken, and they are no longer alone.

"I think the biggest myth out there is that once you have endometriosis, it's only going to progress and get worse over time," Chavez says. "There are so many ways that she can support her own body. I want women just to leave feeling a little bit more empowered than they did when they walked in the door."

When: Saturday, February 7, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Where: StillSpace Center, Mission Valley
Tickets: $29 (virtual only) or $49 (in-person) on Eventbrite