March is Endometriosis Awareness Month

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. This month I will be posting information on Endometriosis to increase awareness of this chronic silent condition.

Endometriosis is a chronic severe multifactorial inflammatory disease characterised by the presence of endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity (e.g. ovaries, bowel, tissue in pelvic cavity). Endometriosis is one of the most common gynaecological diseases in women affecting around 15% of women of reproductive age.

Women with endometriosis experience:

• dysmenorrhoea (painful periods)
• development of scarring and adhesions
• pelvic floor muscle spasm
• pelvic pain
• chronic pelvic pain
• chronic pain
• dyspareunia (pain during sex)
• irritable bowel syndrome
• inflammatory bowel disease
• constipation
• fatigue
• stress
• inflammation
• vascular and nerve inflammation
• cell and tissue oxidative stress
• chronic stress
• negative impacts on quality of life
  

Women with endometriosis experience autoimmune diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis), thyroid conditions, headaches, and pain in the face and mouth.

Most women suffer in silence.

It often requires multi-therapeutic strategies to manage the symptoms.