Once and for all: What is Endometriosis?
By: Alekszandra Rokvity
Tags: Womens Health, Feminism, Endometriosis, Menstruation, Women

Short. Simple. Factual. Bulletpointed.

Endometriosis is the presence of endometrium-like tissue in places outside of the uterus.

The tissue is not the same as the endometrium, because it grew and developed outside of the uterus

You are born with endometriosis, you can’t “catch” or “develop” it

The intensity of the symptoms experienced as well as the age at which they start to show is individual and varies from person to person

People with endometriosis have at least one other accompanying condition

“Uterus on Endo” by A. Rokvity (whole piece @rokvity Instagram)

Symptoms:

Debilitating pain during menstruation

Chronic pelvic pain not related to menstruation

Chronic lower back pain

Fatigue

Fever close to or during menstruation

Cold-like symptoms close to or during menstruation

Painful ovulation

Vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation during menstruation

Painful sexual intercourse

Accompanying conditions:

Appendicitis

Thyroid issues

IBS

Allergies

PMDD

Anxiety

Most common locations of the endometrium-like tissue:

Outer side of uterine walls

Ovaries

Fallopian tubes

Colon

Bowels

Bladder

Pelvic cavity

Origins:

HOX gene’s failure in body design

Development of endometriosis happens on the 15th day after conception

Present in both males and females

Influenced by estrogen

Starts showing symptoms when exposed to high amounts of estrogen (by natural production or chemical intake)

What happens in the body when you have endometriosis?

Your body produces a much higher amount of hormones than a healthy body, especially when it comes to progesterone

During menstruation, your body produces excess amounts of prostaglandin — the hormone that induces cramps which help the endometrium shed

The overproduction of prostaglandin is caused by the body detecting the endometrium-like tissue and trying to get rid of it, failing each cycle

The inflammation of the body and the cramping (measured to be at birth-giving level) is caused by the overproduction of prostaglandin

Cure:

There is no cure.

Difficulty in Diagnosis:

Takes an average of 6 to 8 years between the first complaint to a doctor to reaching a diagnosis (in the Western world)

There is no technology able to scan for endometriosis or detect it non-invasively; only an exploratory laparoscopic surgery can confirm the details of the illness

Symptoms similar to those of ovarian cysts, PCOS, and uterine as well as ovarian cancer — a time-consuming system of elimination is often used

Doctors assume the patients are exaggerating, having mental health problems presented psychosomatically, or are simply lying

Social taboo surrounding menstruation

Lack of endometriosis in education — both of doctors and of the greater public

Lack of endometriosis research

Poor practice — patient dismissal

Treatment options:

Laparoscopic surgery to remove chunks of tissue from critical places (pressing on nerves, making organs stick together and hindering their ability to function)

Success rate of laparoscopic surgery is 52% — this includes the cases when the endometrium- like tissue grows back after approximately 2 years, in which case surgery is then repeated

Pain management options:

Regular exercise of pelvic area and stomach muscles

Stretching

Vegetarian diet

Anti-inflammatory diet

NSAIDs

Hot water bottles

Rest

These facts have been collected through a year’s worth of research for my doctoral dissertation.

If you feel that you have the symptoms, go see your OB-GYN, especially if you intend on having children — endometriosis, on top of being maddening chronic pain, happens to be the number one cause of infertility as well.