Endometriosis: What is it and why does it need an awareness month?

Unbeknown to many, March is Endometriosis Action Month. You may be thinking why does this condition need a whole month’s recognition? I've never even heard of it, so how bad can it be? And it would be fair to ask those questions as it is not widely spoken about in mainstream media, but that’s exactly why it needs a month. Let's talk Endo.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places around the body. This is the same tissue that when shed causes a period, but when shed outside of the uterus, it has no place to go and causes significantly more pain.

Painful sex, painful urination, painful periods to the point of leaving sufferers bed bound. Symptoms differ between each case, but ultimately it results in debilitating disruption to the daily livelihoods of the women who suffer with it. It can also have implications on fertility and, due to the immense impact on day to day life as well as the horrific diagnosis statistics, can increase risk of depression.

Yes, it really is as bad as it sounds. So, why does it take an average of seven and a half years to diagnose?

The only way to receive a definitive diagnosis is to undergo a procedure called a laparoscopy; a small but nonetheless invasive operation where a camera is inserted into the pelvis and the tissue is examined. Without this operation, you can’t get diagnosed, but understandably any surgery is a last resort for doctors.

Doctors may perform blood tests and internal ultrasounds to check severe symptoms, but in many cases these will come back normal to patients who later down the line discover they do have endometriosis. But, it often takes a serious battle to even get to this stage.

Women face a myriad of challenges when it comes to getting doctors to understand their symptoms regarding menstrual health. They are told they are just unlucky to have heavy periods and need to learn to deal with it. Or they are told they just have IBS and it has nothing to do with their periods. They are told time and time again no. No, they cannot be helped.

One in 10 women in the UK live with endometriosis. One in 10 women have had to face a journey averaging seven and a half years to get answers. There is no cure for endometriosis, but after diagnosis there are treatment options which can make life easier for those who have been suffering, including contraceptives to combat periods pains, surgery to remove excess tissue or in some cases a hysterectomy to remove the womb entirely.

It is these statistics that drive home the importance of endometriosis action month. Seven and a half years of suffering without closure is unacceptable. Discourse is changing and things are improving, but it can’t stop here. People with uteruses need to be listened to and have more resources so they can understand what is normal menstruation and when it's time to seek help.

The point of this is not to frighten you. It’s not to scaremonger people with periods. It’s to educate you on this silent illness, to make you understand why it needs an awareness month and to continue to push for better standards of care when it comes to endometriosis.

For more information regarding endometriosis action month, you can visit Ending endometriosis starts by saying it | Endometriosis UK (endometriosis-uk.org) .

If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms, check the NHS website and if you are concerned, book an appointment with your GP.

Image curtesy of Endometriosis UK