Endometriosis Awareness: Painful Periods Are Abnormal
The month of March is Endometriosis Awareness Month and it's April already as I write but that doesn't mean I can't raise awareness about this condition still. As a lover of women's reproductive health, raising awareness about abnormalities is one of my fortes. Women need to be aware of what's going on in their bodies.
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What is Endometriosis?
I first came across the word Endometriosis when I was googling symptoms some years ago. It had similar symptoms to other hormonal conditions but what struck out was it was associated with painful periods.
Endometriosis is what happens when tissue similar to the uterine lining known as endometrium grows outside the uterus.
Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial-like tissue may be found beyond the area where pelvic organs are located. Mayo Clinic
In simpler terms, something is growing where it shouldn't and this is a problem because it's painful and the body doesn't know how to expel this tissue. Just like the endometrium, this look-alike tissue thickens, breaks, and bleeds at the end of a cycle but it becomes trapped.
Endometriosis shouldn't be mistaken for adenomyosis in which case, the actual endometrium penetrates the muscle of the womb.
It might sound new to most, but 1 in 10 women suffer from endometriosis. It is as common as illnesses like diabetes but lacks awareness and even proper research. It can take up to 8 years to get a proper diagnosis after probably being misdiagnosed or sometimes, gaslighted.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Period pains have been so normalized that it's hard to tell what's too painful these days. With endometriosis, the pain is beyond normal and inhibits regular activities. It doesn't hurt during periods only, this pain can happen at any point in the menstrual cycle.
This deep pelvic pain can occur when one uses the toilet or even has sex. Other symptoms are; excessive bleeding, infertility, fatigue, backaches, diarrhea, and nausea.
Research showed that about 90% of women who have endometriosis don't see their doctor when they feel this pain. If you notice this severe type of pain, associated with your period or not, you need to see a doctor.
Causes of Endometriosis
The cause of endometriosis is unknown. This means it is not your fault if you do have endometriosis, it is not about what you did or didn't do, you just - have it.
There is however, a heredity play in this. There is a chance of having it if a relative had it. It is also associated with hormonal imbalances.
Treatment of Endometriosis
There is no cure for endometriosis yet but it can be managed with effective treatment. A lifestyle and diet change is also important as this helps reduce inflammation and other drivers of endometriosis.
Mental health is a huge part of endometriosis as it has been proven that 90% of women who suffer it have depression or anxiety.
The pain and all that you're feeling is not all in your head, passing out from periods is not normal, and if your body doesn't feel right, it probably isn't right.
You have to advocate for yourself and seek help if you think something is wrong. Stop enduring pelvic pain/excessively painful periods and see a doctor today.
References
https://www.webmd.com/women/endometriosis/endometriosis-causes-symptoms-treatment
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endometriosis/symptoms-causes/
https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/adenomyosis-symptoms-causes-treatments
https://www.drlarisacorda.com/endometriosis/
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I really would like doctors to also LISTEN TO THEIR PATIENTS and DON'T THINK THEY KNOW BETTER about what is best for them.
I was diagnosed with endometriosis, and it runs in my family. My mom and all her sisters have had hysterectomies for various reproductive issues. I asked about having one. I have never wanted kids, and I'm queer to boot, so it's not like it's ever going to happen on accident.
The doctor wouldn't even discuss it. Her only offer of help was birth control pills, and that was it. End of discussion. Because "you're too young to know" if I wanted kids or not (I was 29 at the time and had been suffering since I was 16).
Well here I am at 43, still don't want kids, still queer, still with a functioning reproductive system.
I have also have had doctors flat out say "what about your husband" (don't have one) "well what if you get one" (I'm queer) and frankly, even if I was straight and cis and married, IT'S MY FRIKKIN' BODY, NOT THE IMAGINARY HUSBAND'S.
Just 100% over how reproductive health is treated in our society.
I wish they would listen, to some extent you understand your body better and why are they worried about what your "Imaginary Husband" wants. As you said, even if you were straight, it's your BODY and the Husband is not the one suffering fgs.
Yep. There is still a lot of old school sexism when it comes to reproductive health here. And both of these instances where I got these comments from doctors were from women doctors!! It's just like, embedded in the culture.
It's unfortunate that many doctors act like you can't have an opinion about your condition. I have experienced this with several doctors.
No counselling, nothing 🙁 You had to do your own research I guess.
You didn't come to the world with one, why do you need 'permission' for your own body. This is just sick. I'm sorry you have to go through this. Isn't there any way around it currently?
At this point the pain levels have ratcheted way down from where they were and it's tolerable now. It timed with me starting to eat my allergy diet (I have a ton of allergies that I didn't know about for most of my life, and when I finally got diagnosed I stopped eating those foods and a lot of health problems that I would have never thought were allergies went away), so my guess is that it was the soy in my diet. I was a vegan or a lacto-ovo vegetarian for over a decade before I switched to the allergy diet, so I ate a fair amount of soy, not because I ate tons of fake meat really but because it was my milk substitute and egg substitute and things like that. Soy has phytoestrogens, so my guess is that it was messing with my hormones. My thyroid levels became normal too when they were always right on the border of hypothyroidism before.
I'm also hopeful that since I'm in my 40s now, menstruation time will end soon. :)
This is encouraging, to be able to figure out your diet and lessen symptoms. I'm dealing with pcos and I find it really hard to just live most days. I wish like you, I can get my diet to a point where I know what's bad or not. It feels like I'm doing it all wrong most of the time.
There's not a lot of info to work with so I have to do trial and error. All I get most times is conflicting info on the internet about a pcos diet. Like soy for example, I have read it's bad for me, somewhere else I read it's good. My doctor doesn't give me valuable info either and I feel like I'm on my own. Sigh.
Well, I hope so :) I was telling my mum recently that I suspect she had endometriosis all through her menstrual years. Menopause came late for her 🤭
So many doctors just ignore the effect of diet on health. Like they all just think that's some hippie crap and want you to take pills about everything. I mean, no pill shaming, there is real help from medicine for lots of people, but like ...I dunno, maybe there are also other things that help, dear doctor.
I have hope that it will end soon for me not only because of some scattered symptoms, but also because my mom had a surprise child at 40 and my grandmother did at 42. Usually a later surprise child is like, the body saying "it's gonna be over soon let's make one more while we still can!" LOL. But my mom had her hysterectomy soon after so I don't know for sure.
I didn't know this 😄
I can't remember where I learned that, but I did a google and found this: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1472648319303463
I will check it out now
Hmmm I've read about this sometime ago online and I got really scared, so scared that I didn't finish reading it because I saw that I exhibited all the symptoms a lot of times.
I can't even explain the pain I go through once it's almost time for my period, during my period and days after my period.... It's hell really.
No cure yet, I'm still researching and finding out ways to reduce the pain for me. I've seen myself in the hospital because of this... So painful really 😒
Oh dear! I'm sorry about the pain. Please and please, try to see a gynae doctor. If you're not satisfied with their answer, try another.
No problem, I will do that
Thanks for this extended awareness
Truth been told you guys are trying when it comes to the time of periods sometimes I look at my lady friends when they are on are I pity them because of the pain they go through... Just thanking God I am not a lady😃😃
It's just crazy the things nature can do
As in ehnnn.. you guys are really strong ooo I can't just hold that pain every month
Very interesting post, thank you for your contribution to the community!
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Girl! This is such a fine work, please keep doing what you do. This is the first time I’m learning about endometriosis in detail and I’m really grateful.
The society at large has continued to trivialize women’s health issues and it’s just sad. Doctors gaslighting and dismissing women’s health concerns based off a misdiagnosis or plain assumption has claimed the lives of many women.
Thank you so much for sharing this important information with everyone, much appreciated, Wolf lady.(I really like calling you this, I hope it’s okay).
Thanks a lot for reading, I'm so happy you found it useful.
I like it! 😁
Okay, cool ☺️❤️
Quite Mysterious and first time hearing about this Endometriosis, it seems it is mostly common in ladies or women
Women only
Hmmm... Well I once had a colleague who had bad endometriosis and I must say it was a terrible one.
The crazy part of endometriosis is when it goes to affect the lungs or brain.
Just imagine bleeding in the brain during your period.
By the way hope you are safe?
Great post
Could feel my stomach tighten as I read this 😩
I'm safe, thank you!
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It appears that I missed your post completely. However thanks to the @stemng digest, here I am! And I even come with a question... ;)
From the explanations shown in your blog, isn't endometriosis a kind of cancer? At the end of the day, they both refer to something that grows where it should not. Thanks in advance for your answer.
Cheers!
Thank you for taking out time to read.
Endometriosis in itself is not cancer but it can turn into cancer, although rare.
There is also endometrial cancer which is different from endometriosis.
Thanks for clarifying all of this!
Cheers!