Endometriosis is a reproductive health problem that affects many women. Endometriosis symptoms are frequently overlooked and mistaken for excessive menstruation. In the community, there is also a lot of misinformation about endometriosis, which leads to late detection and treatment.

What is endometriosis?

The endometrium is a layer found in a woman's uterus. During menstruation, endometrial tissue and unfertilized eggs are shed alongside the blood. If the egg is fertilized and develops into an embryo, it will attach to the endometrial tissue in preparation for the first stage of fetal development.

In people with endometriosis, this uterine lining-like tissue can grow in other organs or tissues. It can grow in the abdomen, pelvis, and chest. It is hormonally sensitive and becomes inflamed during the menstrual cycle. If severe, this endometrial-like tissue can cause ovarian cysts, tissue adhesions, and scarring in the body.

Endometriosis can cause pain during menstruation, sexual intercourse, urination, and defecation. It can also result in nausea, fatigue, and mental health issues.

Myths and facts about endometriosis

The many myths surrounding endometriosis cause women to ignore the symptoms, delaying treatment and resulting in a more severe condition.

Here are some myths and facts about endometriosis that you need to know:

Endometriosis causes heavy and painful periods

Many people believe that endometriosis is characterized by heavy, painful periods.

Experts say that people with endometriosis generally have heavy periods followed by severe pain. However, people with endometriosis can also experience light periods with mild pain. You should see a doctor if you have pain other than in the lower abdomen or pelvis, pain when urinating, abdominal pain, or pain in the area outside of menstruation.

Pregnancy can cure endometriosis

Many people believe that pregnancy can help with endometriosis. However, according to Medical News Today, some women's symptoms do not improve during their pregnancy. While pregnancy does cause hormonal changes that affect endometriosis, many people do not benefit from this condition. Hormonal changes can cause various types of pain during pregnancy.

Uterine removal can cure endometriosis

A hysterectomy is one of the treatments for severe endometriosis. Based on research, hysterectomy can relieve endometriosis symptoms; however, if endometrial lesions remain outside the uterus, endometriosis symptoms may persist.

Menopause may stop endometriosis

A study discovered that some women develop endometriosis during menopause. So, more research is still needed to identify the causes and risk factors of endometriosis during menopause.

Endometriosis causes infertility

A study found that approximately 30–50% of people with endometriosis have difficulty conceiving. However, experts emphasize that people with endometriosis are not always diagnosed with infertility. With proper treatment, women with mild endometriosis have the opportunity to get pregnant.

Endometriosis is often misunderstood, preventing many women from seeking treatment and early detection. If you have questions about endometriosis and other reproductive health, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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