Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Endometriosis can affect all women and girls of a child bearing age. It's a long-term condition that can have a significant impact on your life, but there are treatments and support which can help.
Around 1.5 million women in the UK suffer from endometriosis.
Haissam Moukarram is a consultant gynaecologist at NCIC and also the Trust’s lead for infertility services.
He said: “Ten per cent of women in the reproductive age population have endometriosis and 30 to 50 per cent of infertile couples suffer from endometriosis.”
The symptoms can include:
- Chronic Pelvic pain
- Painful and heavy periods
- Post coital bleeding
- Pain during or after sex
- Fatigue and depression
- Pain passing urine or pain opening bowels
- Infertility: difficulty getting pregnant
Dr Moukarram said: Endometriosis can have significant impact on person’s life in number of ways. These include:
“Long term suffering from symptoms of endometriosis
“Problems with couples sex life/ relationship, lack of intimacy caused by pain during sex which can lead to relationship breakdowns.
“Difficulty in conceiving which can have significant impact on the mental health of couples, which can cause depression and feel of guilt.”
He added: “With the right treatment of endometriosis lots of these symptoms can be treated or managed and the impact on personal and family life can be significantly improved.
“Management of endometriosis can be simple sometime with medical management such as taking the contraceptive pill. Generally if medical management fails to control symptoms then surgery may be required in the form of a laparoscopy. In some cases where endometriosis is severe then surgical management is offered in a specialised endometriosis centre such as James Cook in Middlesbrough”
“It is important to know that you are not alone with this problem. There is a support group available in Cumbria where you can get in touch, share your story in a confidential way, receive support and help to deal with the challenges you may face with the condition. You can get in touch with the group by email: cumbriagroup@endometriosis-uk.org or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/endoukcumbria/
Dr Moukarram spoke about the effects of COVID-19 on conditions like endometriosis.
He said: “Every aspect of healthcare has been affected by COVID-19. There are steps being done to alleviate the impact of COVID. They include telephone clinics and support offered by phone from GP Surgeries, local hospital clinics and from Middlesbrough’s endometriosis centre.
“We encourage women who are suffering from endometriosis or feel that they may have endometriosis to get in touch with the GP and get advice and help and possibly get referred to the specialised clinics for further help and management.”
Images supplied courtesy of Endometriosis UK