endometriosis 101

Endometriosis - a disease that is often still not considered as such.

To start from the beginning, we need to take a quick look inside the female reproductive organ - the uterus:

The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. This builds itself up after each menstruation until and including the time of ovulation. It then prepares itself in hope for a fertilised egg to implant. It makes the inside of the uterus extra cosy. But if no fertilised egg arrives, the uterus rejects the carefully built-up lining. Menstruation begins. And the cycle starts all over again.

If someone has Endometriosis it means that cells that are very similar to the lining of the uterus grow outside the uterus somewhere in the body and then proliferate there. These cells are also known as lesions.

These lesions of endometriosis react strongly to the hormone estrogen and menstruation. They are inflammations that are present during the entire menstrual cycle but are at their peak during menstruation. These inflammations can be extremely painful. Some women vomit from the pain or even faint. And yet, women have been sent home with such pain for years and decades. "That's just the way it is as a woman", is a phrase I'm sure quite a few have heard.

These lesions can also be a problem if they start to press on nerves or stick to organs. Quite a few endometriosis sufferers, for example, have difficulties getting pregnant because the fallopian tubes are completely blocked.

But why does this happen at all?

The cause is still unclear. There are various theories, none of which have been scientifically proven. Endometriosis is kind of (!) an immune dysfunction. This is because these lesions are not actually dangerous for the body. However, they bleed and thus, the immune system reacts. It inflames them. This is how the body works when it realises that something is wrong.

For a long time, I didn't accept it as a disease myself, and always thought I was simply too sensitive. But endometriosis pain is not the same as period cramps.

Endometriosis is a chronic disease because it occurs regularly and over many years. Chronic pain that is invisible and yet affects so many women of reproductive age. For a long time, I didn't accept it as a disease myself, and always thought I was simply too sensitive. But endometriosis pain is not the same as period cramps. All doctors must finally realise this. And the disease must finally be taken seriously. Let's be honest: If men had unbearable pain in their testicles every month for several days, research would be much further along. Unfortunately, this is a fact because research and doctors were purely male fields in the past. Women's medicine was simply not seen because there were not many women working in medicine. We now have to look forward and trust that things are finally happening. Now that attention in medicine is finally being focussed on the female body, too.

Because pain during periods is not the only symptom of endometriosis. The following symptoms associated with this disease have been identified:

• pain during menstruation

• painful ovulation

• pain during intercourse

• cyst formation

• endobelly (extremely swollen belly)

• PMS

• infertility

• acne

• fatigue / chronic tiredness

• brainfog (difficulty concentrating)

• migraine

• the list goes on  

It is therefore worth having an investigation, even if you do not have extreme pain during menstruation. Especially because endometriosis lesions can grow. The earlier the disease is recognised, the faster you can react.