March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis, often referred to as “endo,” is a condition that happens when tissue similar to the lining of a woman’s uterus (womb) grows outside of the uterus, according to the Office on Women's Health. It can cause painful periods, pain during sex, irregular bleeding, digestive problems, infertility, and other symptoms, notes Mayo Clinic.
It is estimated that 1 in 10 women have endometriosis. Endometriosis frequently presents with the symptom of pain including dysmenorrhoea (painful periods), dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse), and chronic pelvic or abdominal pain. Endometriosis can cause infertility and for women with subfertility, the prevalence rate ranges from 25% to 40%. Yet the disease is often misdiagnosed or missed altogether, says the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound). Lack of education and public awareness is part of the reason that endometriosis goes undetected.
National Endometriosis Awareness Month was an initiation taken by The Endometriosis Association in 1993. This month is observed worldwide through various activities that involve educating people about the condition, fundraising, and marches. Yellow ribbons and brochures are distributed worldwide to honor National Endometriosis Awareness Month.
Endometriosis is a disorder where the endometrial tissue migrates to areas outside the uterus. The endometrial tissue (inner lining of the uterus) is the same tissue that thickens during the menstrual cycle. When the endometrial tissue sheds it is discharged along with blood causing menstruation. In Endometriosis this process occurs outside the uterus, where the blood has nowhere to go, causing pain in the pelvic region.
The symptoms include pelvic pain, heavy periods, bleeding between menstruation, and infertility. Endometriosis is often difficult to diagnose because there are many other conditions that can cause these symptoms. In a few cases, endometriosis remains undiagnosed because it is mistaken for other conditions or women do not experience any symptoms at all.
The causes of endometriosis are uncertain, but several factors such as genetics, retrograde period flow, (where blood flows back into the pelvis instead of out of the body,) immune system disorders, and hormones are possible influencers.
Treatment ranges from symptom management with pain medication and hormone therapy such as oral contraceptives to surgical treatment. Conservative surgery involves removing the misplaced endometrial tissue while preserving the uterus, though in severe cases a hysterectomy may be performed.
Endometriosis can have a devastating effect on the quality of life of individuals suffering from this disorder and can have a huge impact on their physical, mental, and social well-being.
Endometriosis is a hormonal and immune system disease in which tissue (endometrium) similar to the inside lining of the uterus is also found in other areas of the body. It develops into growths that cause pain, bleeding, formation of scar tissue, and other medical problems. Symptoms include:
The uterus, or womb, is the place where a baby grows when a person is pregnant. The uterus is lined with tissue (endometrium). Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other places in your body. These patches of tissue are called "implants," "nodules," or "lesions." They are most often found:
Endometriosis cannot be confirmed in routine gynecological exams. Diagnosis is considered uncertain until proven by laparoscopy, a surgical procedure done under anesthesia. A laparoscopy usually shows the location, size, and extent of the growths and can help the doctor and patient make better treatment choices. (Non-surgical diagnostic tests are in development.)
Endometriosis is a puzzling hormonal and immune disease affecting girls and women from as young as eight years old through postmenopause. The cause of endometriosis is still unknown, though there are some theories of its causes:
Endometriosis can affect anyone who menstruates. Certain factors can raise or lower your risk of getting it.
You are at higher risk if:
You have a lower risk if:
The main symptoms of endometriosis are:
Other possible symptoms include:
Surgery is the only way to know for sure that you have endometriosis. First, however, your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. You will have a pelvic exam and may have some imaging tests.
The most common surgery to diagnose endometriosis is a laparoscopy. This is a type of surgery that uses a laparoscope, a thin tube with a camera and light. The surgeon inserts the laparoscope through a small cut in the skin. Your provider can make a diagnosis based on how the patches of endometriosis look. He or she may also do a biopsy to get a tissue sample.
Though endometriosis is a painful condition that can affect your quality of life, it’s not a fatal disease. In extremely rare cases, however, endometriosis-related complications can cause potentially life-threatening problems.
There is no cure for endometriosis, but there are treatments for the symptoms. Your provider will work with you to decide which treatments would be best for you.
Treatments for endometriosis pain include:
Treatments for infertility caused by endometriosis include laparoscopy to remove the endometriosis patches, or in vitro fertilization.
It is one of the most common gynecological conditions. It is estimated that one in 10 women have endometriosis.
Endometriosis is difficult to diagnose. The average diagnosis can take up to seven and a half years.
Endometriosis and fertility. Endometriosis adversely affects women’s reproductive systems.
Natural cures. Lifestyle changes and natural remedies can help relieve some of the symptoms, such as exercise, a healthy and well-balanced diet.
It is a chronic disorder. Endometriosis is a long-term condition.
It is time to get comfortable with discussing women's health. A painful period is not normal and the more we talk about it the sooner an endo patient can receive the treatment and support she deserves. National Endometriosis Awareness Month helps to break the taboo and stigma surrounding menstruation by educating and creating a platform for the discussion of women’s health.
Lack of awareness and the normalization of symptoms of menstrual pain contributes to delayed diagnoses for many women. Education and awareness help with the early diagnosis of this disorder.
Awareness can help detect this disorder early on. You can participate in many awareness conferences or virtual events being organized during this month.
Many organizations offer volunteer opportunities for people who want to help women affected by endometriosis. Endometriosis can have a devastating effect on the quality of life of women who suffer from this condition. Having to live with painful physical symptoms have harmful effects on the emotional wellbeing of women too. This month recognizes their suffering.
Sources:
https://www.cochrane.org/news/endometriosis-awareness-month-2022
https://www.everydayhealth.com/endometriosis/awareness-month/
https://endometriosisassn.org/endometriosis-awareness-month
https://nationaltoday.com/national-endometriosis-awareness-month/
https://endometriosisassn.org/
https://medlineplus.gov/endometriosis.html