Q: Can you tell me about endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (womb) are found outside of the uterus.

It may be found on:

• The ovaries

• Fallopian tubes

• The lining of the pelvis

• The bladder

• The bowel

These tissues behave like normal uterine lining – they thicken, break down, and bleed during each menstrual cycle.

But outside the womb, the blood has nowhere to go.

This leads to:

• Inflammation

• Scarring

• Cyst formation (especially in the ovaries)

• Severe pelvic pain

Common Symptoms:

• Painful periods

• Heavy bleeding

• Pain during or after sex

• Bleeding between periods

• Lower abdominal or back pain

Other possible symptoms:

• Fatigue

• Constipation

• Blood in stool

• Difficulty getting pregnant

Some women have no symptoms at all.

Who is at higher risk? Those with:

• Early onset of menstruation

• Late menopause

• No previous childbirth

• Family history

• Low body mass index

• Alcohol use

Treatment depends on severity of symptoms and desire for future pregnancy

Options include:

• Pain relief medications

• Hormonal therapy (to slow down growth of endometrial tissue and prevent new implants. However, symptoms could return, once therapy is stopped)

• Surgery (removal of implants or, in severe cases, removal of uterus and ovaries for women who have completed childbearing, to ensure that the primary source of estrogen which encourages the thickening of endometrial tissue is eliminated. This latter surgery is better suited for women who have completed their families)

So, if your period pain disrupts your life, makes you miss work or school monthly, or makes intimacy painful – please don’t ignore it.

Pain is not something women are meant to endure silently. There are no prizes for who endures the most pain during a period.

Speak to a doctor.

– Dr Ketch