ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH 2019

ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH 2019

Every March Endometriosis Month takes place across the world, with the aim of increasing awareness and highlighting the symptoms of this debilitating condition that affects an estimated 176 million women worldwide.

Endometriosis can have a devastating effect on the quality of life of sufferers of this condition due to the painful symptoms that the disease carries and the fact that it is the biggest cause of infertility in women. Although this is a condition that affects 1 in 10 women, the average diagnosis can take up to 7 and a half years, and with this unacceptably long diagnosis time, the main focus of the event is to raise awareness of the symptoms of Endometriosis with the goal being more women receiving diagnosis and treatment earlier.

Endometriosis Week aims to raise awareness about this hidden and often unrecognized condition. Aims of Endometriosis Week include:

• promoting – a greater awareness & understanding of endometriosis as a real, debilitating and disabling disease
• highlighting – the consequences of living with endometriosis for the sufferer, carer and all those affected by the disease
• creating – a greater awareness and understanding of endometriosis amongst the medical profession, education sector, employers, politicians and society in general
• seeking – a best practice and consistent care and treatment for everyone wherever they may live
• providing – an opportunity for those whose lives have been affected by endometriosis to play an active part in helping making a difference

What Is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis affects women and occurs when tissue, similar to the lining of the womb (uterus) grows in other areas of the body. This tissue grows mainly in the abdominal cavity (see diagram).

The tissue is linked to the woman’s hormonal cycle. However, unlike a period, the tissue remains within the body and bleeds forming adhesions (scar tissue), lesions and blood-filled cysts.

Symptoms of endometriosis include:

• bleeding
• pain
• infertility
• fatigue
• suppressed immune system

Determined on a case by case basis, treatments for endometriosis include:

• painkillers
• drug therapy
• surgery
• hormonal treatments
• hysterectomy
• surgical removal