ENDO HELL
Heavy periods and 4 other signs of endometriosis – and how to treat it
IT's an agonising and incurable condition that affects around two million women in the UK.
But there's still a worrying lack of awareness when it comes to endometriosis - and the warning signs to look out for.
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The chronic condition is known to occur when tissue from the lining of the womb is found outside of the womb - in areas of the body including the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, the abdomen and the bladder.
And while endometriosis is a common condition, Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical director of , told The Sun Online that symptoms can often be ignored.
She says: "One of the biggest challenges with getting a diagnosis of endometriosis is that the symptoms may be mistaken for other problems."
Here, she takes us through the four key signs to look out for:
1. Heavy periods
One of the main symptoms is painful periods – but the pain is often more severe than ‘normal’ period pain, and lasts from a few days before the period until the end of the period.
Many women also have low tummy and pelvic pain, which may be worse before and during a period but can be there all the time.
2. Pain during and after sex
Painful sex – especially during deep penetration – is also a common symptom of endometriosis. This can last for several hours after sex.
Penetration and other movements related to sex can pull and stretch endometrial tissue, especially if it has grown behind the vagina or lower uterus.
3. Difficulty conceiving
Endometriosis can also make it harder for you to get pregnant.
If you have endometriosis and are trying to get pregnant without success, it is important that you get help and support so speak to your doctor about being referred to a gynaecologist or a fertility specialist.
4. Bleeding between periods
Spotting between periods might not seem like too bothersome a problem but it can be one of the key signs of endometriosis.
A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology showed premenstrual spotting is the clearest predictor of endometriosis.
5. Pain when you go to the toilet
It can also cause pain when you wee or poo and very occasionally blood in the wee or poo.
You may also experience fatigue, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating or nausea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis adds: "Unfortunately it isn’t always easy to treat endometriosis once it is diagnosed.
"If you don’t want to get pregnant, hormone treatments (including the IUS – a hormone-releasing coil) and the combined oral contraceptive pill (sometimes called ‘the pill’) may help.
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"If not, the next stop might be other hormone treatments called GnRH analogues, progestogen hormone tablets or danazol.
"Surgery (usually using a flexible telescope inserted through a small cut in the tummy) can allow doctors to destroy patches of endometriosis in the tummy cavity. Hysterectomy is usually kept as a last resort."
Celebrities with the condition
Celebrities including TV personality Danielle Lloyd, US actress Lena Dunham and singer Halsey have all previously spoken out about their battles with the painful condition.
In particular, earlier this year Alexa Chung was praised for sharing her endometriosis diagnosis on social media.
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The model, 35, told her followers: "I don't want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member, but here I am. #endometriosisclub #lifelongmembership sorryifyouhaveittooitsucks"
The post, which has more than 65,000 likes, prompted an outpouring of love and support from dozens of women with the same condition.
Why some women need a hysterectomy
According to NHS guidelines, a hysterectomy - an operation to remove the womb - is rare, and usually only performed on women for whom other treatments haven't work, and who have decided to not have any more children.
It's a major operation - and only 30,500 were carried out in England in 2012 and 2013. It carries a risk of heavy bleeding, infection and damage to the bladder or bowel.
Other surgical options for endometriosis are a laparotomy and laparoscopy (keyhole surgery). These methods both work to remove endometriosis tissue.
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