Endometriosis Awareness Month March 2020

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition which affects up to 10% of women. It causes the tissue that forms on the lining of the uterus to grow elsewhere within the pelvic region. In rare cases the tissue can even grow beyond the pelvic region. As is typical through the menstrual cycle, hormonal changes cause this tissue to grow and break down, however as the tissue is outside of the uterus there is nowhere for it to go and it becomes trapped.

Why awareness is important

There has been a drive in recent years to improve awareness about the condition. A lack of knowledge about endometriosis can mean that women are unaware they are suffering from the condition and therefore they do not receive the treatment and support that is available to them.

The more we know about this condition, the greater the chances of recognising it earlier in sufferers. This could be hugely positive to many as one of the potential consequences of the condition is fertility problems, therefore with earlier diagnosis, women can take proactive steps to respond to this.

Recent success in the area of awareness has led to a change in the school curriculum which comes into effect this year. It will see menstrual wellbeing being discussed in the classroom which goes a long way towards education from a young age. New educational material has also been distributed to GPs to aid with diagnosis.

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary as can the severity of them, though this has no indication as to the degree of the condition or the stage that it is at, therefore it is worth discussing with your GP if you are concerned or unsure.

• painful or irregular periods;
• pain in the lower abdomen and back;
• fatigue;
• painful intercourse;
• bowel and bladder problems

Common misconceptions

Endometriosis can affect all women and girls regardless of race or ethnicity. Diagnosis often comes later in a woman’s life due to the lack of education surrounding the condition, not because it is something that only develops as a woman gets older.

Endometriosis is NOT a type of cancer.

Severe period pain is not normal or ‘part of being a woman’. If it interferes with everyday life, this is something that should be investigated further.

Endometriosis does not have to mean infertility. There is a chance that it may be more difficult to conceive but the condition does not definitively mean a woman will be infertile.