For the majority of women, there can be discomfort associated with their menstrual flow or period. Usually, it is cramps and light pain in pelvic region or lower back, and for the most part, it is par for the course. However, when is that pain so severe that is can no longer be considered normal, and may be pointing to an underlying condition?

All too often, and because cramps and some degree of discomfort can be part of the menstrual experience, when you look to the women in your life – such as your mother, older sisters, aunts, etc. – they tend to reinforce the notion that pain, regardless of its severity, is part and parcel of having your period. However, if your menstrual pain is so debilitating that you have to miss work or school, are need to be in bed, it may wise to contact your physician or gynaecologist to have the matter investigated further. One of the causes could be endometriosis, a common reproductive health disease.

 

What Is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus. Below is a more comprehensive definition from the Mayo Clinic:

Endometriosis (en-doe-me-tree-O-sis) is an often painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial-like tissue may be found beyond the area where pelvic organs are located.

With endometriosis, the endometrial-like tissue acts as endometrial tissue would — it thickens, breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. But because this tissue has no way to exit your body, it becomes trapped…

Endometriosis can cause pain — sometimes severe — especially during menstrual periods…

Although endometriosis is an identified medical condition, there are still several myths around it. We highlight six.

 

Myth 1.  It Is Easy To Diagnose Endometriosis

The fact is that it is not easy to diagnose endometriosis. In most instances, the woman has to alert her doctor to the challenges she has been experiencing, which will trigger a deeper examination, in order to confirm whether she is indeed suffering with endometriosis. However, it can take quite some time, even several years, to confirm the diagnosis, as if can only be definitively diagnosed through surgery.

 

Myth 2.  It Is Normal For Periods To Be Extremely Painful

As stated above, extremely painful periods is not normal. Culturally, there is still the belief that serious or debilitating pain is normal during a woman’s period, and that a woman just needs to suck-it-up and bear it. However, if the pain interferes with your daily life, or if the pain is so severe that it cannot be relieved by pain medication, advise your doctor accordingly, as endometriosis may be the cause.

 

Myth 3: Heavy Bleeding Means You Have Endometriosis

Although excessive bleeding is listed among the symptoms of endometriosis, it is not the sole cause. On its own, heavy bleeding could point to growths, such as polyps and fibroids, thyroid problems, pregnancy, or even cancer.

Once again, and depending on the other symptoms you may also have, your doctor may have to conduct a series of tests and examinations, in order to eliminate other illnesses before endometriosis can be confirmed.

 

Myth 4: Endometriosis Only Affects The Pelvic Region.

Although the pelvic region is the most common locations for endometriosis growths to occur, such as on the outer surface of the uterus, the bladder, and the fallopian tubes, endometriosis may occur anywhere in the body, such as in the abdominal cavity or even the lungs. Again, the fact that endometriosis may occur anywhere in the body contributes to the difficulty in confirming a diagnosis, and consequently the treatment options that might be available.

 

Myth 5:  Hysterectomy Cures Endometriosis

First, it is important to highlight that there is no known cure for endometriosis. But there are various treatments, and even surgery, which can be prescribed to better manage the disease.

Having said this, and with regard to a hysterectomy, the success of that surgical procedure, to relieve the symptoms of endometriosis, depends on where the endometrial tissue is located. Referring to the earlier definition of endometriosis, the endometrial tissue “that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus”; so unless the endometrial tissue has implanted itself on your ovaries and fallopian tubes – and nowhere else – it is unlikely that your endometriosis will be completely eliminated.

 

Myth 6: Endometriosis Always Improves After Menopause.

Although endometriosis is often associated with menstruation, it does not automatically means that once you are in menopause that your endometriosis symptoms will also disappear. Even after menopause, the ovaries continue to produce small amounts of oestrogen, and so the endometrial tissues continue to respond to the hormone, causing pain. Hence, although endometriosis symptoms may improve with menopause in many women, for others it does not result in any relief, and so the range of treatment options that are available may need to be explored.

 

 

Image: Sora Shimazaki (Pexels)