One in 10 Women Worldwide Suffers from Endometriosis

Endometriosis happens when tissue similar to the lining of your uterus goes rogue and grows in places it doesn't belong, like on your ovaries, fallopian tubes or intestine. And because so many people just live with the pain, it takes an average of six to 10 years for a person suffering from endometriosis to actually be diagnosed with the condition. That's a long time to wait for an explanation. Endometriosis often involves the pelvic tissue and can envelop the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It can affect nearby organs, including the bowel and bladder. So, during the menstrual cycle, or period, this tissue responds to hormones, and due to its location, frequently results in pain.

Endometriosis causes surrounding tissues to become irritated and potentially develop scars and sticky fibers that bind tissues together. In some cases, endometriosis can cause cysts on the ovaries. These are called endometriomas. Fortunately, there are effective treatments to manage and treat endometriosis. There are some possible explanations of what sparks the endometrial-like tissue to grow out of place. But the exact cause is still uncertain. However, there are some factors that make someone more likely to get endometriosis, such as never giving birth, menstrual cycles occurring more frequently than every 28 days, heavy and prolonged menstrual periods that lasts longer than seven days, having higher levels of estrogen in your body, having a low body mass index, having a structural issue with the vagina, cervix, or uterus that prevents the passage of menstrual blood from the body, a family history of endometriosis, starting your period at an early age, or starting menopause at an older age.

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, either during or outside of the normal menstrual period that is beyond normal cramping. Normal menstrual cramping should be tolerable and should not require someone to miss time from school, work or normal activities. Other symptoms include cramps that begin before and extend after a menstrual period, lower back or abdominal pain, pain with intercourse, pain with bowel movements or urination, and infertility. Individuals with endometriosis may experience fatigue, constipation, bloating, or nausea, especially during periods. If you are feeling these symptoms, it's a good idea to talk to your health care provider.

First, the provider will ask you to describe your symptoms, including the location of the pelvic pain. Next, they may do a pelvic exam, an ultrasound, or an MRI to get a clearer view of the reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. To definitively diagnose endometriosis, surgery is required. This is most commonly performed by laparoscopy. The patient is under general anesthesia while the surgeon inserts a camera into the abdomen through a small incision to evaluate for endometrial-like tissue. Any tissue that looks like endometriosis is removed and examined under the microscope to confirm the presence or absence of endometriosis.

When it comes to treating endometriosis, first steps involve trying to manage symptoms through pain medications or hormone therapy. Hormones, such as birth control pills, control the rise and fall of estrogen and progesterone in the menstrual cycle. If those initial treatments fail and symptoms are impacting a person's quality of life, surgery to remove endometriosis tissue may be considered. Dealing with endometriosis, its pain, complications and fertility problems can be hard to cope with and be stressful. If you suffer from endometriosis, consider joining a supporting group of people who can understand you and you can share your condition with them.

Five warning signs or red flags that tell you something definitely not normal is going on;

Number one, intense period pain. Really bad cramps are classic symptom of endometriosis. We're talking pain that makes you miss school or work, or pain that doesn't go away with birth control pills or anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen. Not all people with endometriosis have this much pain with their periods, and not all people with bad cramps have endometriosis. But really bad pain anytime is certainly something you should talk to your healthcare provider about.

Number two, chronic pelvic pain. If you have severe pain in your pelvis all the time, not just when you have your period, you may be experiencing the effects of inflammation and scarring caused by endometriosis that has been left untreated. The longer this cycle continues without treatment, the higher likelihood your pelvic floor muscles and nerves may also be negatively impacted.

Number three, painful sex. If having sex hurts, that could be a sign of endometriosis. Penetration can pull and stretch endometrial tissue that has grown behind the vagina or lower uterus. Endometriosis can also lead to pelvic floor spasm, which can worsen with vaginal penetration. Some people experience only a mild discomfort, while others experience a deeper, more intense ache during or after sex. Basically, if the pain outweighs the pleasure, something isn't right.

Number four, stomach problems. When endometriosis attaches to your bowel or causes kinking of your bowel from adhesions, it can wreak havoc with your digestive system, causing nausea, constipation or diarrhea. It can also make you severely bloated, especially when that time of the month rolls around.

Number five, trouble getting pregnant. If you've been trying to get pregnant but aren't having any luck, endometriosis might be the culprit. And you're not alone. Up to 50% of women who experience infertility have endometriosis. Endometriosis causes inflammation and scarring in your pelvis. The scarring can also cause kinks in your fallopian tubes. This inflammation, scarring and kinking make it much harder for the sperm and egg to meet up, or for an embryo to implant in your uterus. Endometriosis is a frustrating condition. Many people have symptoms, but some don't. Some people have mild pain. For others, the pain is unbearable. And for so many people, the road to diagnosis is an unnecessarily long one. If you're experiencing any red flags at all, it's important to see your healthcare provider right away. And remember, bad period pain isn't normal. Having regular appointments with your healthcare provider is key to staying on top of any potential problems or concerns.