Ep 215: When Period Pain Isn’t Normal: Endometriosis in Teens with Dr. Iris Kerin Orbuch
Description
In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman sits down with endometriosis specialist Dr. Iris Kerin Orbuch, author of Beating Endo: How to Reclaim Your Life from Endometriosis and a key medical voice in the films Endo What? and Below the Belt.
Dr. Orbuch explains what endometriosis is, why it’s so common yet underdiagnosed, and how it often first shows up in teens—not only as painful periods, but often as chronic gut issues, fatigue, and “IBS” that never fully resolves. She shares how she evaluates patients, why excision surgery is considered the gold standard, and how she combines surgery with pelvic floor physical therapy, gut work, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care to help patients truly heal.
Also discussed:
- The red flags that period pain that starts interfering with school, sports, and social life is not normal.
- How endometriosis can show up years before a teen ever gets her first period.
- Why birth control can help symptoms but acts as a Band-Aid, not a cure, and doesn’t stop disease progression.
- How endometriosis is linked to infertility, and why diagnosing and treating it early matters.
- Practical next steps for parents: when to suspect endo, how to talk to your pediatrician or OB-GYN, and what kind of specialist to look for.
This episode is meant to give parents a clearer sense of when to worry, when to push for more answers, and how to support teens who might be living with endometriosis.
Connect with Dr. Iris Kerin Orbuch
- Website: https://www.lagyndr.com
- Iris Wings – Sanctuary for Endometriosis Surgery & Wellness 9001 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 207
Beverly Hills, CA 90211 - Phone: (310) 651-7333
- Follow her on Instagram:
- @dririskerinorbuch
- @iriswings
- Buy her Book: Beating Endo: How to Reclaim Your Life from Endometriosis
Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.
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YouTube channel: Ask Dr Jessica
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