What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis happens when tissues that normally lines the inside of your uterus or known as endometrium grows outside of the uterus especially around the pelvic area, bowel and in rare instances in the stomach or lungs.

It is a known fact that Endometriosis is an estrogen dependent disorder that can result in substantial morbidity, including pelvic pain, multiple operations and infertility (source: The Lancet).

Impact of Endometriosis – A lifelong Journey

Endometriosis is a disease that sometimes causes symptoms before and after the reproductive years; it most commonly impacts the general physical, social and mental well-being of women during their prime and most productive decades.

Women with Endometriosis report a greater loss of work productivity. Non work related activities such as housework, exercising, studying, taking care of children were also significantly impaired by the painful symptoms of Endometriosis.

One of the biggest problems with Endometriosis is that there is a significant delay of 7-11 years before the average women with the disease is diagnosed.

This delay is due partly to a lack of awareness of Endometriosis, social taboos surrounding the disease and the fact that women don’t know what is normal and what isn’t when it comes to menstrual health.

Early detection and management of the disease might be able to improve fertility in some of these women. Delayed diagnosis and treatment risk progression of the disease and possibly risk of infertility, can increase the long term cost of treatment.