Endometriosis is a condition which involves tissue growing in places it shouldn’t. This can include the womb or ovaries. It can impact women of any age.
Symptoms include pain on your period, pain during or around the time you have sex, pain while going to the toilet, feeling sick, constipation, diaorrhea, blood in the urine, lower abdominal pain or problems getting pregnant.
Endometriosis can be a difficult condition to diagnose. It has come under controversy in the media in recent years, because it has either been mis-diagnosed or assumed to be natural symptoms more associated with the menstrual cycle.
According to a government enquiry, despite one in 10 women suffering with endometriosis, it takes an average of eight years to be diagnosed with the condition. It’s widely believed actual cases of endometriosis are far higher than that which is reported.
There’s no established treatment for endometriosis. A doctor may recommend painkillers, hormone medication or contraceptives, surgery to remove tissue or hysterectomy.
The latter treatments can and may induce early menopause, particularly if organs like the ovaries have to be removed as a consequence of endometriosis.