The pain of endometriosis

YOKANY OLIVEIRATHE journey towards getting a diagnosis for endometriosis seems to be just as painful as the disorder itself. Every month, I dread the thought of getting my menstrual period.

Last year around this time, I was rushed to the hospital’s emergency unit after my body went into total shock because of the severity of my menstrual pain.

Before being rushed to the hospital, I remember being curled up on my bed. I resorted to taking Neurofen (for period pain), which has been the go-to over-the-counter medication for years. But not even that seemed to alleviate the pain.

With every minute that passed, the pain began to escalate, and the last thing I knew was that I was screaming and crying out of agony, my body was stiff, and my eyesight began to blur.

In the past, I have experienced some of the worst pelvic and lower back pain, as well as low iron levels due to blood loss. However, I would never have imagined that my period would have sent me to hospital.

The doctor who attended to me at the time recommended that I should see a gynaecologist immediately. He added that there might be a small possibility that I had “endometriosis.”

“Endometri – what?”. I was confused.

Although I was traumatised by the experience, I took it upon myself to do some research about the disorder before going to the gynaecologist.

Many women will describe their period pains differently. Some hardly feel much pain, while others, like myself, feel the most unbearable suffering from time to time.

Dr Ferai Bento, a Windhoek gynaecologist and obstetrician, said endometriosis is a gynaecological disorder that occurs in the lining of the uterus.

“Endometrial tissue, which is normally found inside the uterus, is found outside, which may cause severe pain,” the doctor explained.

According to him, chronic pelvic pain while a woman is on her period is not normal. He said in rare instances, the displaced endometrial tissue could be found in the lungs, bladder and brain. However, the disorder mainly involves organs such as the ovaries, Fallopian tube, and the tissue lining the pelvis.

Heavy and excessive bleeding,

Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) such as

cramping before, during or after your period;

Lower back and abdominal pain;

Infertility (failure to fall pregnant);

Pain during or after intercourse;

Pain during bowel movements or urination (while on your period);

Other minor issues may include bloating,diarrhoea or nausea during menstrual periods.

According to Dr Bento, the severity of one’s period pain does not always mean a woman can have endometriosis.

He said women go through laparoscopic surgery whereby a small incision or cut is made to find the endometria in the abdominal organs.

“Some women do not show any symptoms but have endometriosis, while others may experience a little bit of endometrial bleeding and not have endometriosis,” Bento explained.

“We do not know what causes it exactly. Scientists and doctors are doing a lot of research around endometriosis to find out where or how it comes about,” he continued.

Dr Bento said women who do not want to have more children and experience some issues as a result of endometriosis opt for a hysterectomy, whereby parts of the uterus are removed.

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