In 2016, I received the astonishing diagnosis of adenomyosis.

Adenomyosis is a form of endometriosis (formerly called endometriosis “interna”), where lesions of trapped endometrial-like tissue invade the muscle of the uterus. I will save the details of the painful and relentless symptoms for my memoir, because if you are here, reading this, you probably already know them well.

The nurse practitioner who gave me my diagnosis—over the phone, in thirty seconds—told me I would “probably need a hysterectomy.” This was devastating news.

Many a doctor had already dismissed me over the preceding fifteen years, whenever I’d spoken of my gluten sensitivity or symptoms stemming from my autoimmune thyroid disorder. So, luckily (?), I was used to figuring things out on my own. I began studying everything I could about adenomyosis, as well as its sister, endometriosis, and the role hormones play in these debilitating diseases. Not just estrogen and progesterone, but also cortisol and thyroid.

And a year after my adenomyosis diagnosis, I was symptom-free.

Without the use of hormones, and without the drastic, irreversible surgery to remove my uterus.

I took to Facebook, figuring there are surely others who would like to avoid hysterectomy and heavy hormones, and started the Group, Natural Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Treatment (NEAT) with eight of my personal friends. When that number grew to a few thousand in a couple of years (and is now over 10,000), I realized there was a greater need for this discussion. So I started this website where I could share my research.

While I strive to provide as much scientific evidence as possible, here, I also invite you to join the NEAT group where you can find support and tips from other women who are finding health again through natural means. I also invite you to sign up for my newsletter for occasional updates on what’s happening with this space.

Thanks for stopping by!

Heather K Jacobsen

About me

I’m a former researcher and writer for the National Academy of Sciences, women’s health advocate and adenomyosis conqueror.

I have a Master’s in Science from the University of Kent in Canterbury (UK) and a BA from the University of Virginia. I’ve given a TEDx talk and written articles on nutrition and medicine. I also founded the Facebook group, Natural Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Treatment (NEAT), which I still currently administer.

In addition to science writing, I also write memoir, poetry, and fiction. My poetry has been featured on PBSNewsHour Online, among others.