March into Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common yet often misunderstood and misdiagnosed medical condition affecting millions of women worldwide. This chronic disorder occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, starts growing outside the uterus. Despite its prevalence, endometriosis remains a relatively unknown and frequently misdiagnosed condition, leading to prolonged suffering and a significant impact on quality of life.
Endometriosis can take an average of seven years to diagnose. Misdiagnosis tends to happen as symptoms can vary between women and change over time, and are commonly associated with period symptoms. Period pain is one of the most common symptoms of endometriosis and is unfortunately often accepted as normal.
Let’s March into Endometriosis, together!
What Should I Look Out For?
Symptoms can present differently for all women, but pain is the most common one. Endometriosis can cause different types of pain, such as:
- Painful periods
- Pain during or after sex
- Abdominal, lower back, and pelvic pain
- Pain during ovulation, including in your legs and thighs
- Pain when going to the bathroom
- Pain that worsens over time
- Pain that stops you from doing things you usually do
There are also other, non-painful symptoms you may experience, including:
- Bladder and bowel problems (e.g., the need to wee frequently, constipation, or diarrhoea)
- Bloating around the time of your period
- Tiredness, especially around the time of your period
- Vaginal discomfort
- Mood conditions (e.g., anxiety and depression)
- Asthma
- Heavy period bleeding, or passing lots of clots
- Irregular period cycle
- Feeling especially sick or tired
- Fertility issues
Keep in mind that all women are different and experience endometriosis in their ways. Someone may have more severe pain than you – don’t let this stop you from seeking diagnosis and treatment.
What About Endometriosis in Teenagers?
Diagnosing endometriosis in teenagers is typically delayed as common symptoms such as period pain, pain between and before periods, or bladder and bowel pain are shared among young women without endometriosis.
Doctors often explore various treatment options, including anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen for relieving pain. Hormonal treatments, such as the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) and progestogens, may also be recommended to relieve period pain.
Usually, these medications are successful in alleviating symptoms of painful periods, however, if persistent pain prompts multiple GP visits within a sixth-month period, a laparoscopy will most likely be recommended. A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that aims to remove endometriosis and ultimately confirm the diagnosis.
Ask your GP for a referral to Toowoomba Obstetrics and Gynaecology for specialised care in adolescent endometriosis.
How Do I Support Myself Through Endometriosis?
Endometriosis affects both your physical and emotional well-being, impacting relationships and sexual desire. It’s important to know you’re not alone, even though discussing it may be challenging. When people understand the condition, they can better support you.
While a healthy lifestyle may not alleviate the severity of endometriosis, it’s still important to maintain overall health and well-being.
Physical Health
Physical activity is beneficial for managing endometriosis, as it releases feel-good chemicals, reduces pain signals, decreases inflammation, relaxes pelvic muscles, enhances movement, improves mood, and alleviates symptoms of depression and anxiety. Exercise also combats fatigue and addresses issues like constipation, bloating, and bowel pain. Be mindful of potential side effects while exercising, such as pain flares. Break the exercise into small sessions (roughly 20 to 30 minutes), or consider other exercises, like walking or yoga.
While evidence linking nutrition and endometriosis is indirect, a healthy diet promotes overall well-being. Focus on plant-based foods and fish, particularly those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, for potential pain relief. Magnesium, vitamins B1 and B6, and a low-fat vegetarian diet may also help reduce pain.
Emotional Wellbeing
Living with endometriosis can significantly impact your emotional well-being, especially if you experience pain. The journey to diagnosis can take an average of seven years, leading to a range of emotions from shock and anger to depression. Diagnosis may bring relief or worry, particularly if future pregnancy plans are in consideration. Your emotions may be influenced by symptom severity and duration, diagnosis duration, treatment options, and support networks.
- Body image: Body image can be negatively affected by endometriosis symptoms like pain, fatigue, bloating, painful sex, irregular periods, and bladder/bowel problems. Seeking help from a specialist in endometriosis and body image or a counsellor can address these concerns.
- Stress: The unpredictable and distressing nature of endometriosis symptoms, often leading to misdiagnosis or dismissal, can be stressful and frustrating. Prolonged stress can impact health, causing reactions like nausea, diarrhoea, overeating, or undereating. It’s important to manage stress through activities like gentle yoga, mindfulness therapy, engaging in enjoyable activities, or seeking counselling.
- Depression and Anxiety: Endometriosis may also trigger depression and anxiety. Depression involves constant negative thoughts, fatigue, loss of confidence, disinterest in activities, difficulty concentrating, and changes in eating and sleeping patterns. Anxiety is often characterised by extreme fear, rapid heart rate, heavy breathing, and sweating, and psychological symptoms include worry, overthinking, and avoidance. Seeking professional help is essential for managing anxiety and depression associated with endometriosis.
Sexual Health
Chronic pain often leads to a decreased sexual desire (libido) in women. Sexual desire varies and can be influenced by factors such as health, stress, mood, and the quality of the relationship.
Many women with endometriosis experience pain during sex, which can be deep in the vagina or near the entrance and lower abdomen. This pain can stem from endometriosis lesions, an overactive pain system, and tense pelvic floor muscles. Lifestyle factors like stress and poor sleep can intensify the pain, making it challenging to relax the pelvic floor muscles and leading to decreased sexual desire.
It's important not to tolerate pain during sex, as there are numerous treatment options available. Pelvic floor physiotherapy can teach relaxation techniques, provide pain relief methods, and help manage persistent pain through gentle muscle treatment, nerve desensitising techniques, exercises, and sometimes medications or ointments.
The physical and emotional symptoms of endometriosis can also impact sexual intimacy in a relationship. Open communication with your partner about feelings and seeking help from a psychologist or relationship counsellor if needed is crucial for maintaining a healthy relationship. However, it’s also important to remember that intimacy can be enjoyed in various ways beyond sexual intercourse.
What Should I Do If I Suspect I Have Endometriosis?
No matter what you may have been told, it’s never normal to experience period and pelvic pain, whether severe or otherwise. If you feel like you may have endometriosis, see your GP as soon as possible and request a referral to Dr Lanziz Homar.
If you start to notice symptoms relating to endometriosis, it may be worthwhile to keep a symptom diary. Keep track of your symptoms – when they occur, the pain severity on a scale of 1-10, etc. – as your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms, as well as family history and your periods, to gain a full understanding of your condition.
The team at Toowoomba Obstetrics and Gynaecology are experienced in treating endometriosis and other adolescent and women’s gynaecology concerns. Don’t hesitate to call our friendly team today, and help us March into Endometriosis.