Summary
March marks the beginning of Endometriosis Awareness Month – where the struggles of living with the condition is brought to people’s attention.
March marks the beginning of Endometriosis Awareness Month – where the struggles of living with the condition is brought to people’s attention.
One in 10 women and those assigned female at birth are impacted with Endometriosis, yet it is horribly under-researched.
The organisation Endometriosis UK dedicated March to explaining the condition and bringing awareness to the cause. They have a plethora of information on their website, https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/endometriosis-action-month-2025.
But What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis occurs when cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body. These cells can grow and change in response to hormones in the menstrual cycle, this can cause inflammation, pain and scar tissue.
There are four types of Endometriosis:
- Peritoneal (superficial) endometriosis – is found mainly on the pelvic peritoneum – a thin film that lines the inner surface of the pelvis and surrounds the pelvic organs.
- Ovarian endometriosis (endometrioma) – is when endometriosis cysts are found in the ovaries.
- Deep endometriosis – is found in locations such as the bladder, bowel and recto-vaginal septum. The lesions of endometriosis are at a deeper level than peritoneal (superficial) endometriosis.
- Extra-pelvic endometriosis – is when endometriosis is found outside of the pelvis, such as the thorax (chest) and caesarean scars.
How Do You Know If You Have It?
The symptoms of Endometriosis can often be missed, or more likely, dismissed as normal period pain. This leads to a battle in getting officially diagnosed by doctors.
Some common symptoms include:
- Pelvic pain
- Painful periods that interfere with everyday life
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Pain during/after sex
- Painful bowel movements
- Pain when peeing
- Difficulty getting pregnant – only 70 per cent of those with Endometriosis will be able to conceive naturally
- Fatigue, likely accompanied by one or more of the previous symptoms
Having Endometriosis can, unfortunately, have a heavy impact on mental health as well.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is always a good idea to see your doctor.
My Experience:
Puberty and the teenage years were not a good time, constant debilitating pain took over my body every month and I had no idea why.
It seemed that the pain was supposed to be a normal aspect of menstruation – if I complained about it, it was just an exaggeration. I would be told to take a paracetamol and get on with my day. Yet when the paracetamol did nothing for the pain, I had to just grin and bear it. It got to a point where I would cry and beg to get out of having to do PE – I was too uncomfortable, in too much pain, and unable to participate.
For years I would take so many ibuprofens and paracetamol that they eventually stopped working on me – cramps that had me curled up in the foetal position kept me from sleeping whilst no painkiller had any effect.
Eventually, my mum took me to the doctor since this was not a normal experience. I was given a higher-grade painkiller meant specifically for period pain – Mefenamic Acid – and was “diagnosed” with Endometriosis.
The “diagnosis” was not standard procedure in diagnosing Endometriosis. Typically, surgery is needed where a camera is inserted to prove the Endometriosis – or blood work is taken. My doctor, instead, asked my mum about a family history of Endometriosis and told me that my symptoms aligned with the condition. Now, about six years on from this, Endometriosis is on my medical records.
Dealing with it has gotten so much easier now that I know what is wrong. I have found that contraceptive pills are an effective way to stop the pain, but everyone deals with it differently.
Bringing Awareness
Endometriosis is an underdiagnosed, under-researched, potentially life-altering condition. People need to be aware that the heavy, painful periods they experience are not standard procedure – it could well be a symptom of Endometriosis.
The pain can be horrific, and the only way to help lessen it is to bring awareness to the condition and how it manifests in people.
Check out Endometriosis UK’s website for some fantastic resources, and don’t be ashamed to bring your symptoms to a doctor – it can make your life so much more bearable.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels.com