What is Endometriosis?

I decided to do a post on this because of the number of women in this part of the globe who are dying in silence from the devastating effects of this not very well acknowledged disease.  Those affected by it most times don't speak up about it, are not believed by their husbands or are often misdiagnosed.  If your wife complains about severe pain during or after sex or becomes totally afraid of and avoids sex, do not take it personal as she could be suffering from endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a female health disorder that occurs when cells from the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other areas of the body. This can lead to pain, irregular bleeding, and problems getting pregnant. Endometriosis is a common finding in women with infertility and has a significant social and psychological impact.

 

 Symptoms

Symptoms may depend on the site of active endometriosis. Pain is the main symptom of endometriosis.  Its main but not universal symptom is pelvic pain in various manifestations. Throbbing, gnawing, and dragging pain to the legs are reported more commonly by women with endometriosis. Compared with women with superficial endometriosis, those with deep disease appear to be more likely to report shooting rectal pain and a sense of their insides being pulled down.

The severity of these symptoms may vary from individual to individual. It's important to note also that not all endometriosis sufferers necessarily suffer from infertility.

A woman with endometriosis may have:

• Painful periods
• Pain in the lower abdomen before and during menstruation
• Cramps for a week or two before menstruation and during menstruation; cramps may be steady and range from dull to severe)
• Pain during or following sexual intercourse
• Pain with bowel movements
• Pelvic or low back pain that may occur at any time during the menstrual cycle. 

 Causes and Cure

The cause of endometriosis is unknown. One theory is that the endometrial cells shed when you get your period travel backwards through the fallopian tubes into the pelvis, where they implant and grow. This is called retrograde menstruation. This backward menstrual flow occurs in many women, but researchers think the immune system may be different in women with endometriosis.

Sometimes, endometriosis may run in the family. Although it is typically diagnosed between ages 25 - 35, the condition probably begins about the time that regular menstruation begins. A woman who has a mother or sister with endometriosis is much more likely to develop endometriosis than other women.

There is no cure for endometriosis, but it can be treated in a variety of ways, including pain medication, hormonal treatments, and surgery.

Ex-Miss Nigeria, Nike Oshinowo, Speaks on Her Battle with Endometriosis

The Ex-beauty queen has been suffering from endometrosis, which medical professional describe as a significant factor in unexplained female infertility, chronic pelvic pain and other gynaecological problem. 
 

She says her battle with Endometriosis is an unpleasant one “I have lived with endometriosis since the age of 13. I was sent to boarding school in England when I was seven. I went to prep school. It was during the first few days in secondary school that I began my periods (menstrual). They called the ambulance and I was hospitalized for 10 days because the pain started and wouldn’t stop.

I thought I was going to die. Living with endometriosis is a challenge. When you see your doctor, your doctor just tries to treat the symptoms and assumes the pain revolves around your menstrual cycle. But this is not so. This pain affects every single aspect of your life.”

She noted that on sex “Women with endometriosis do not want to have sex because it’s painful. It is very, very painful. So you do not want to have intercourse.  Because it is painful, you’ll not want to go there. It’s not something you are going to look forward to. I have read books on this. And even when you try to forget the fact that you do not want to, half the time you are bleeding.  Periods last about 5 days, mine, if I’m lucky, lasts 7-10 days and if I’m super, duper lucky, lasts less than seven days; if I have eaten what I should, and exercised constantly, it’s not so bad. Exercise works. If you look at a girl’s menstrual cycle, 26-27 days, remove the 10 days she’s been menstruating and remove the days she doesn’t want sex, when she has pre-menstrual tension.

When every part of you is sore, on those days, you are not going to want sex, and even on the remaining five or so days that you are ‘OK, you are not going to want to have intercourse because it is going to be painful. You just don’t want to. So you cannot have a proper relationship with a man.” Nike said.

Click to read more on Endometriosis.

 

Sources:
- Vanguard

- Wikipedia;

- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000915.htm