March is Endometriosis Awareness Month and this topic is near and dear to me since it is a disease that I have and will continue to have since there is no cure.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of your uterus (endometrial tissue) is found elsewhere in your body. This commonly includes your pelvic cavity and can also be found on your ovaries, uterus, bladder and bowel. This type of tissue has even been found in random places like muscle tissue and brain tissue.

What is even worse is that this rogue tissue acts like the tissue that’s in the uterus. With hormonal fluctuations of each menstrual cycle the tissue thickens and then bleeds which causes inflammation and pain. The broken-down tissue has nowhere to go, unlike when you shed your uterine lining, so scar tissue and adhesions begin to form. This can cause organs within the pelvic cavity to fuse together, bowel and bladder issues, fertility issues and of course a lot of pain.

Symptoms may include: pelvic pain, painful periods, heavy bleeding, cramping 1-2 weeks around menstruation, painful ovulation, pain with intercourse, painful bowel movements, difficulty with bowels, infertility and fatigue.

The pain can be severe and debilitating.

This not only affects you physically but can affect you mentally and socially.

It’s estimated that 30-40% of women with endometriosis may not be able to have children, but luckily there are some women who have children without any complication.

Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years, which is approximately 176 million women worldwide as of 2017 figures.

Prior to being diagnosed with endometriosis I had never heard of it or at least that I remembered. So if so many women have it, then why is it such a mystery and why don’t we know more about it?

Due to the “normalization of symptoms” and the variety and severity of symptoms, the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis can take up to 10 years. I say “normalization” because even though some symptoms are common, it doesn’t mean they are normal.

The only way to accurately diagnose endometriosis as of right now is through laparoscopic surgery.

There are 4 stages of endometriosis to determine the severity of the disease, but it does not always correlate with symptoms or pain. Some people who have a minimal case (stage 1) may have severe complications and pain while some with a more severe case (stage 4) may only have a few minor symptoms.

There is no known cause of endometriosis, but there are theories and there is a genetic component. Endometriosis seems to have an immune component as well. Even though it is not technically an autoimmune disease, those with endometriosis have a higher chance of developing other autoimmune conditions.

While there are ways to treat the symptoms associated with endometriosis, there is no cure. Treatment options include pain medication, hormonal therapy and surgery to remove the lesions and scar tissue. Some doctors recommend a hysterectomy, but that will NOT cure nor guarantee the symptoms or lesions will not return.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Getting ready to have laparoscopic surgery to confirm my diagnosis of endometriosis and to excise the lesions.

Even surgery to remove the lesions and scar tissue does not guarantee the symptoms and lesions will not return. Many women have had to undergo multiple surgeries with little relief of their pain and symptoms. If you do decide to have surgery, be sure to choose a surgeon that is skilled in removing endometriosis and one that EXCISES the lesions vs an ablation to “burn them off”. Better outcomes have been shown when the lesions are excised.