endometriosis
About Endometriosis
You are not alone if you suffer from Endometriosis. There are approx. 200 million women living with endometriosis worldwide.
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Endometriosis is a condition whereby the endometrium (the tissue that lines the uterus), moves to other parts of the body, and often causes lesions, growths, inflammation, and pain.
Common symptoms include pelvic pain that puts life on hold around or during a woman’s period. Symptoms vary greatly from one woman to another and are not limited to physical pain. There are a broad range of symptoms, including non physical symptoms such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, and cognitive function.
Whilst endometriosis most often affects the reproductive organs it is frequently found in the bowel and bladder and has been found in muscle, joints, the lungs and the brain.
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Source: https://www.endometriosisaustralia.org/
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LINK BETWEEN BMI AND ENDOMETRIOSIS
Endometriosis has a link to metabolism. However, BMI can't be relied on to predict who is at risk of developing the disease. Rather, women with endometriosis are more likely to be thin.
'If you have endometriosis you are more likely to be thin because endometriosis is acting in a systemic nature… it’s acting at sites distant to the pelvis like the liver, which is involved with metabolism and that, in turn, is leading to changes in genes that are involved in weight loss or weight gain'.
Getting a Diagnosis
Endometriosis has long been under recognised and misdiagnosed.​ Symptoms and severity of the disease vary widely from one individual to another, making diagnosis more elusive.
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Symptoms of Endometriosis include:
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Pain: Severity varies greatly from one individual to another
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Bladder or bowel problems, e.g. difficulty holding on or frequently needing to urinate, constipation or diarrhea
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Heavy bleeding or irregular bleeding
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Fatigue
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Inflammation
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The average time to obtain a diagnosis is between 7 to 12 years. There is no test for Endometriosis. The only way to obtain a certain diagnosis is to undergo a laparoscopy i.e. keyhole surgery.
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Endometriosis is as common as aSthma and diabetes
Although endometriosis is as common as asthma and diabetes, in 2016, Australia's National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) allocated $14.7m to asthma research, a substantial $64.1m to diabetes research, and only $837,433 to endometriosis research. Chronic underfunding of research into endometriosis over several decades means there is inadequate research from which to issue practice guidelines for the disease, which in turn means that many obstetrician-gynecologists have a poor understanding of the disease. This ultimately means the level of care women with endometriosis have been receiving in Australia has lagged behind when compared to the management of many other diseases.
I can attest to this from my personal experience after being turned away repeatedly by GPs, told nothing is wrong, for more than a decade. I stumbled across a diagnosis some 12 years later when trying to conceive. Had I been provided early diagnosis and information, I may not have required 2 operations. The current situation represents an unacceptable failure in the provision of healthcare to women in Australia.
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There is now a National Action Plan for Endometriosis
which aims to improve awareness and understanding of the condition, and fund research programs. It is hoped this will lead to improved quality of life for women living with endometriosis in Australia.
Chemicals to avoid
Endometriosis is an Oestrogen dependent disease that thrives and can become more severe when Oestrogen levels are higher.
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Some chemicals mimic the effect of Oestrogen on the body and can cause Oestrogen imbalances. These chemicals are called Xenoestrogens. These are also endocrine disruptors as they interrrupt the body's endocrine system - the system which produces hormones.
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Overexposure to Xenoestrogens can contribute to the development and progression of endometriosis. For this reason, it is important to check the ingredients of all personal care products to ensure they do not contain endocrine disrupting substances such as Xenoestrogens.
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Further information is available on the Avoid list page.
Foods
Here are some ways to modify your diet which may assist in managing Endometriosis:
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- Reduce Phytoestrogens (soy)
- Reduce red meat, dairy, processed foods, sugary foods
- Increase Omega 3 fatty acids, oily fish
- Increase leafy green vegetables, berries
- Try a Low FODMAP diet
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As Endometriosis causes inflammation in the body, it may be helpful to increase your intake of foods which fight inflammation, such as leafy greens, berries, and oily fish (Omega 3 fatty acids).
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For further reading on foods that reduce inflammation in the body:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation
Top 5
Top 5 things to know when you're on this journey:​
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If you suffer from endometriosis, or are still battling to get a diagnosis, you are not alone.
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Speak up when seeking a diagnosis. It can take a long time to be heard. The average time to diagnosis is 7-12 years. This means you need to be persistent. Ask your GP for a referral to a gynecologist. If you're not being heard, seek another opinion.
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Altering your diet and the ingredients you put on your skin and hair can assist with keeping in check the severity of hormonal imbalances and inflammation you experience.
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Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and naturopathy, and wellness practices such as massage, yoga and meditation, can increase your quality of life and have a significant positive impact for endometriosis sufferers.
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Lots of women who suffer from endometriosis go on to have normal pregnancies, and beautiful healthy babies. If you have endometriosis, it does not necessarily mean you will suffer from infertility. However, early detection and diagnosis of endometriosis is desirable to assist in managing aspects that may affect fertility.