QUARKS DOKU: Sophie’s fight against endometriosis and pain

Sophie (30) has been struggling with sudden, extreme pain in her abdomen, back, and legs since she got her first period. She suffers from endometriosis. She has tissue that resembles the lining of the uterus growing in places where it doesn’t belong. Sophie is not alone: about one in nine women suffer from endometriosis and its consequences. This is particularly difficult for Sophie, as she repeatedly has to accept limitations in her career as a professional karate athlete. After an operation to remove the endometriosis tissue, Sophie experiences a brief improvement. But now the pain is returning and Sophie is looking for new ways to to deal with the currently incurable disease in her body and manage the pain herself. She wants to avoid a second operation for as long as possible and is focusing on mental training instead.

Will hypnotherapy help her to better control her endometriosis and the associated pain? Will she manage without another operation?

TEAM

Written and directed by: Tilman Wolff // Assistance: Sina Klischat // Camera: Harald Schmuck // Sound: Alexander Berschadski // Editing: Isabelle Albert // Graphics: Anastasia Wagner // Sound effects: Mathis Hohmann, Erwin Poley // Sound mixing: Kai Fürst, Erwin Poley // Color matching: Billy Gomez // Narrator: Rabea Wyrwich // Production manager: Katja Sträter // Production assistants: Alican Tamkan, Karl Hax // Producers: Sarah Zierul, Thomas Weidenbach // Comissioning Editor: Markus Schall // Produced by Längengrad Filmproduktion on behalf of WDR