Endometriosis is more than just 'period pain' for women

Submitted by PatientsEngage on 17 February 2015

Women with endometriosis commonly experience very painful periods and painful sex which can lead to infertility - but there's a long and worrying delay in diagnosis.

Women with endometriosis commonly experience very painful periods and painful sex. Some will also have pelvic pain which can last throughout the cycle. Bowel symptoms, such as bloating and diarrhoea, are common and are often put down to irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of bladder irritation are experienced by two-thirds of sufferers. Fertility is often reduced. 

The daily effects of living with chronic illness, including managing pain and associated fatigue, extend to all areas of women’s lives. Depression and anxiety are very common. The impact on relationships and sex, plans for a family, and career and productivity, can be immense. To add further difficulty, many will have a long and difficult journey towards diagnosis and proper management. Some will have been told outright, or by implication, that they are simply not managing the normal business of being a woman. 

The key message for women and doctors is that disabling period pain is not normal. Women who are routinely struggling with severe period pain or pain during sex should seek medical advice.

Doctors who are considering the diagnosis should then refer women to a gynaecologist with a special interest in endometriosis, or, ideally, to a specialist treatment centre. Women can connect with other women through contact with an active network of support groups.

To understand about the symptoms, causes and treatment options for  endometriosis read here http://www.patientsengage.com/?q=conditions/endometriosis

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/endometriosis-is-more-than-just-period-pain-for-women-10049608.html

Community
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Women's Health and Pregnancy
Condition
Endometriosis
Changed
Tue, 02/17/2015 - 13:29

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