Bust out your yellow because Endometriosis Awareness Month
has arrived!
Endometriosis is a painful disease that impacts 1 out of every 10
women, yet it takes an average of ten long years to diagnose. This is because not only is there not enough
awareness in the general population regarding this disease, but a general lack
of awareness on the part of the medical community as well.
Symptoms of the
disease almost always include painful periods, but often are associated with
painful intercourse, diarrhea or constipation, urinary issues like frequent
UTI’s or frequent urination, back and/or leg pain with your periods as well as
infertility and pregnancy loss. The disease itself is most similar to the
lining of the uterus, in that it responds to the hormones in your body.
Endometriosis can be present on the outer
surface of the uterus, on the ovaries, it can extend to the bladder, the
ureters, the colon, the rectum and other parts of the pelvic cavity, even as
far up as the diaphragm. The inflammation, adhesions and scar tissue caused by
this disease can lead to chronic pain, fatigue and some patients suffer from
depression and anxiety related to the impact this disease can have on their
quality of life.
Currently the only way to officially diagnose
endometriosis is through laparoscopic surgery to confirm the presence of the
disease. Doctors will try to treat
patients with drugs that induce a temporary menopause or with a hysterectomy,
but experts in the field agree that endometriosis excision surgery is the best
method of treating the disease. Sadly, there is no cure.
For more
information on how you can get involved with the endometriosis community check
out this website: http://www.chancesour.blogspot.com/2014/02/whats-happening-endometriosis-awareness.html
Also please enjoy a video that I made with my daughter to
raise awareness for endometriosis:
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