Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. It most frequently occurs in the pelvis, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic lining, but can also be found in less common areas such as the bladder, bowel, or even outside the pelvis. This misplaced tissue can cause inflammation and scar tissue.
It is estimated by the World Health Organisation that endometriosis affects roughly 10% of reproductive age women and girls globally. Approximately 1.5 million in the UK are affected by this condition.
Symptoms for this disease can vary and include the following:
- Pelvic pain
- Severe period pain
- Pain during sex or bowel movement
- Heavy periods
- Infertility
Other symptoms may include fatigue, shortness of breath, anxiety and low mood.
Diagnosis is complicated as not every patient will suffer from the same symptoms, the severity can vary as well, and the symptoms overlap with other medical conditions. A laparoscopy procedure is often required in order to confirm the diagnosis.
The cause of the disease remains unknown at present. Unfortunately, this means there is no method to prevent the disease at the moment. There is still no cure, but the symptoms can be treated and managed.
Some of the treatment options for this disease include:
- Medication – this includes pain relief or hormonal therapies
- Surgery – this includes laparoscopic removal of the lesions or removal of the uterus when fertility is not an issue
- Lifestyle adjustments – exercise and change in diet can help alleviate the symptoms
- Fertility treatment – this includes IVF for those with fertility issues
It was announced last month that the first daily pill to treat endometriosis, known as relugolix combination therapy, has now been approved for NHS use. The benefits of the daily pill over other existing treatment options is that it can save patients the need to travel to clinic for injections, combines all needed hormones in one pill and can also be started and stopped more easily for those planning to have children or trying to manage the pill’s side effects. It will only be available on the NHS for people who have already tried all other medical and surgical treatments and found they did not help. Although it is estimated that only a small amount of patients with endometriosis will benefit from this new treatment, we welcome the news that this represents an improvement in the welfare for those suffering from this disease.
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