Endometriosis is a condition where tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium), grows outside of the uterus. During the menstrual cycle, the role of the uterus lining is to thicken, break down and bleed/exit through the vagina – aka, a female’s period. With endometriosis, the tissue outside the uterus behaves the same with thickening and breaking down, however, unlike normal endometrial lining, it has no place to exit. Without being able to leave the body, this often leads to inflammation, tissue scarring and pain. Current data suggests that Endometriosis affects 1 in 7 women.
How do you know if you have endometriosis?
The common symptoms of endometriosis include:
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Painful periods that stop you from living your normal life
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Periods being heavy or irregular
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Pelvic pain
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Back pain
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Pain during sex or pain with urination
How is endometriosis diagnosed?
Your GP and/or pelvic physiotherapist may suspect endometriosis after consultation, but the only way to be diagnosed with endometriosis is laparoscopy and/or biopsy.
I might have, what do I do?
Firstly note that diagnosis of endometriosis takes time, ranging from 7-10 years from the time of initial symptoms.
This is because female pelvic pain is complex and other pelvic conditions may be present/overlap with others, so if you do experience some of the symptoms above, it doesn’t mean you have endometriosis.
If you are experiencing pelvic pain or any of the symptoms above, the best thing for you is to advocate for yourself and have a good treating team behind you. This often, and may include a GP, pelvic physiotherapist and gynecologist. Having these health professionals will ensure best care, bringing medical, complementary and surgical options and advice that will best suited for each individual.
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us on (02) 8883 5360 or email at info@sydneywomensphysiotherapy.com.au
Jasmine