WHAT IF IT WAS MORE THAN PERIOD PAIN… COULD IT BE ENDOMETRIOSIS ?1
Endometriosis corresponds to the presence of tissus similar to the lining of the womb outside the uterus2.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY
When symptoms appear, don’t minimize them and don’t wait to seek support. The most common symptoms od endometriosis are6,7,8:
Period related-pain (dysmenorrhea)3
Chronic pelvic pain3
Difficulty conceiving or infertility3
Pain during and/or after sexual intercourse3
Painful bowel movements3
THE SOONER, THE BETTER
The onset of symptoms can happen during adolescence,
70%
of teenage girls suffering from pain during their period can be eventually diagnosed with endometriosis6
CHRONIC, DEBILITATING PAIN IS NOT THE NORM
A period is a normal, healthy part of a woman’s life, but being bed-bound due to period pain for days every month is not normal and can affect quality of life1.
Over 75%
of women with endometriosis endure that interfere with their daily activities3,9,10.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
1 in 10**
WOMEN ARE AFFECTED BY ENDOMETRIOSIS3
** About one in ten women (about 10% of women in their reproductive age and girls globally) in their reproductive years is affected by endometriosis, corresponding to 190 million women worldwide3.
SPEAK UP
4-11 Years
IS THE AVERAGE TIME FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS TO BE RECOGNIZED AFTER THE FIRST SYMPTOMS APPEAR11.
Early referral, diagnosis and management can help reduce progression of the condition, preserve fertility, and keep symptoms under control3,6.
IT’S NOT IN YOUR HEAD THE PAIN FROM ENDOMETRIOSIS IS REAL AND SHOULDN’T BE DISMISSED.
This condition can influence relationships, education, careers, and also potentially lower the chance of becoming pregnant7,10,11,12.
SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE
ENDOMETRIOSIS CANNOT BE CURED3,13, BUT IT CAN BE MANAGED, IF DIAGNOSED EARLY3,10,14.
OPTIONS FOR RELIEF ARE AVAILABLE, BUT NO SINGLE TREATMENT IS SUITABLE FOR ALL3,13.
Discuss the symptoms with your doctor and then with specialists. They are best placed to advise on the most suitable treatment for your condition.
REFERENCES
1. Ballard K,Lowton K, Wright J. What’s the delay? A qualitative study of women’s experiences of reaching a diagnosis of endometriosis. Fertil Steril. 2006;86(5):1296-1301. 2. Kaveh M, Tahermanesh K, Mehdizadeh Kashi A, Tajbakhsh B, Mansouri GH, Sadegi K. Endometriosis of Diaphragm: A Case Report. Int J Fertil Steril. 2018;12(3):263-266. 3. World Health Organization (WHO). Endometriosis. Key facts. Available at https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis. [Accessed 9 June 2021]. 4. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Endometriosis –A Guide for Patients© 2012. Available at https://www.reproductivefacts.org/globalassets/rf/news-and-publications/bookletsfact-sheets/english-fact-sheets-and-info-booklets booklet_endometriosis.pdf. [Accessed 24 September 2021]. 5. Chapron C, Marcellin L, Borghese B, Santulli. Rethinking mechanisms, diagnosis and management of endometriosis. Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 2019;15,666–682. 6. Sarıdoğan E. Endometriosis in teenagers. Womens Health (Lond). 2015;11(5):705-709. 7. Nnoaham KE, Hummelshoj L, Webster P, et al. Impact of endometriosis on quality of life and work productivity: a multicenter study across ten countries. Fertil Steril. 2011;96(2):366-373.e8. 8. Maddern J, Grundy L, Castro J, Brierley SM. Pain in Endometriosis. Front Cell Neurosci. 2020; 14: 590823. 9. Bulletti C, Coccia ME, Battistoni S, Borini Endometriosis and infertility. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2010;27(8):441-447. 10. Grogan S, Turley E, Cole J. ‘So many women suffer in silence’: a thematic analysis of women’s written accounts of coping with endometriosis. Psychol Health. 2018;33(11):1364-1378. 11. Taylor HS, Kotlyar AM, Flores VA. Endometriosis is a chronic systemic disease: clinical challenges and novel innovations. Lancet. 2021;397(10276):839-852. 12. Norinho P, Martins MM, Ferreira H. A systematic review on the effects of endometriosis on sexuality and couple’s relationship. Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 2020;12(3):197-205. 13. Ferrero S, Evangelisti G & Barra F. Current and emerging, treatment options for endometriosis. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 018;19(10): 1109-1125. 14. Trivedi P, Selvaraj K, Mahapatra PD, Srivastava S, Malik S. Effective post-laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis with dydrogesterone. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2007;23 Suppl 1:73-76.