Endometriosis: A Must Read For All Ladies

 

When Ada’s teacher noticed that she had missed two classes of Biology in a row that week, she did not see it as something to worry about. She already knew that her studious student would be in the school’s sick bay.

Ada always had very painful menstrual periods. Her friends pitied her and her guardians reassured her that it would get better as she grew older, but it actually got worse every month.

 If not for the understanding of her college supervisor, Ada would have missed three papers in her final examinations due to the condition.

However, when she started working, her employers were not as lenient as her lecturers. In fact, her constant absence from work on specific days of the month due to the painful menstrual cramps she experienced almost cost her her first job with a multinational auditing firm in Lagos.

It was at this juncture that Ada realised that this condition could cost her much more than she had imagined and decided to get help.

After several visits to a gynaecologist, the 23-year- old accountant was diagnosed with endometriosis.

Endometriosis, a female gynaecological disorder, affects 176 million women and girls worldwide during what should be the most promising years of their lives.

Experts estimate that the world loses at least $100bn annually to the effects of this disorder alone.

Endometriosis does not only affect the woman or girl, it could also affect her relationship with her family, employers, colleagues, friends, teachers, and loved ones

According to statistics Endometriosis is a painful, chronic disease that affects at
least 6.3 million women and girls in the U.S., 1 million in Canada, and millions more worldwide. It occurs when tissue
like that which lines the uterus (tissue called the endometrium) is found outside the uterus, usually in the abdomen on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and ligaments that support the uterus; the area between the vagina and rectum; the outer surface of the uterus; and the lining of the pelvic cavity. Other sites for these endometrial growths may include the bladder, bowel, vagina, cervix, vulva, and in abdominal surgical scars. Less commonly they are found in the lung, arm, thigh, and other locations.

 This misplaced tissue develops into growths or lesions which respond to the menstrual cycle in the same way that the tissue of the uterine lining does: each month the tissue builds up, breaks down, and sheds. Menstrual blood flows
from the uterus and out of the body through the vagina, but the blood and tissue shed from endometrial growths has no way of leaving the body. This results in internal bleeding, breakdown of the blood and tissue from the lesions, and
inflammation and can cause pain, infertility, scar tissue formation, adhesions, and bowel problems.

What are the Symptoms of Endometriosis?
Pain before and during periods
Pain with sex
Infertility
Fatigue
Painful urination during periods
Painful bowel movements during periods
Other Gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhea, constipation,
nausea.
In addition, many women with endometriosis suffer from:
Allergies
Chemical sensitivities
Frequent yeast infections
Diagnosis is considered uncertain until proven by
laparoscopy, a minor surgical procedure done under anesthesia. A laparoscopy usually shows the location, size,

and extent of the growths. This helps the doctor and patient make better treatment choices.

What Causes Endometriosis?
The cause of endometriosis is unknown. The retrograde menstruation theory (transtubal migration theory) suggests

that during menstruation some of the menstrual tissue backs up through the fallopian tubes, implants in the abdomen, and grows. Some experts believe that all women experience some menstrual tissue backup and that an immune system problem or a hormonal problem allows this
tissue to grow in the women who develop endometriosis.

The primary symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, often associated with your menstrual period. Although many women experience cramping during their menstrual period, women with endometriosis typically describe menstrual pain that's far worse than usual. They also tend to report that
the pain has increased over time.
Other symptoms. You may also experience fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating or nausea, especially during menstrual periods.

The severity of your pain isn't necessarily a reliable indicator of the extent of the condition. Some women with mild
endometriosis have extensive pain, while others with advanced endometriosis may have little pain or even no pain at all.

Endometriosis is sometimes mistaken for other conditions that can cause pelvic pain, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or ovarian cysts. It may be confused with
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that causes bouts of diarrhea, constipation and abdominal cramping.
IBS can accompany endometriosis, which can complicate the diagnosis