When I began researching this article, I believed I knew how horrific endometriosis was, and I thought I understood all the pitfalls of the disease. However, as I learnt more about this illness, I was astounded by how many symptoms fall under the banner of endometriosis, and how cataclysmic these can be for the everyday lives of women. Whether this falls into the category of the effects of suffering with endometriosis, the lack of research into it, or the length of time it takes to get a diagnosis, this illness needs to be given more of a spotlight. Endometriosis is hell for those who suffer with it, and something must be done to help.
Across the UK, one in ten women suffer with endometriosis with impacts being felt across their lives in a variety of ways. The disease itself occurs when endometrial cells, similar to the cells found in the uterus lining, are found elsewhere in the reproductive system and the body as a whole. As a consequence of this, people who have endometriosis endure extreme agony whilst on their periods in the form of cramps. However, this is not where the torture subsides. These cramps can persist outside of the period of menstruation, with ovulation pain, and PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) pains being common. Additionally, sufferers can experience back pain, pain when urinating, pain during sex, extreme tiredness, low moods, and anxiety. Whilst this already sounds debilitating, the severity of this pain cannot be underestimated, as the agony experienced can be extreme enough to cause vomiting and fainting as well. Consequently, those with endometriosis have restricted lifestyles, often struggling to go to work, or school during their periods.
With these alarming symptoms in mind, one would suppose that there would be an array of treatment options available to those who diagnosed with endometriosis or are suspected of having the disease. Unfortunately, this is false. When I first began to go to the doctors at the age of 12 after fainting at school repeatedly because of such severe pain, I was told to simply double the dose of ibuprofen I would usually take. No tests were done, no questions were asked. Although, the one ostensibly hopeful promise the NHS made was that they would help me get pregnant in the future if I wanted to. Yes, fertility issues are also a symptom of endometriosis, but by far not the most important one, let alone the one that a 12-year-old girl is most concerned with.
This is the case for most women who go the doctors complaining of severe period cramps. First they are prescribed more ibuprofen, then naproxen (another anti-inflammatory drug), and then codeine to simply knock yourself out so you do not feel the pain anymore. If a patient requests something else, desperately pleading that there must be some other alternative, they are prescribed birth control. Allegedly, this is supposed to lessen period pains and make the bleeding less heavy, however it can also have the opposite effect. Furthermore, the side effects of birth control are completely ignored in this conversation, as I for one was never told that being on the pill could make the cells of my cervix turn inside out, but low and behold they can. This blatant lack of treatment demonstrates a diabolical lack of care for female health problems, as the final treatment option offered is induced menopause and a hysterectomy. Definitely not an ideal solution.
Additionally, a major pitfall for those struggling with suspected endometriosis is how hard it can be to be diagnosed. For most patients, the diagnosis process takes between four and 12 years, and involves a heavy battle against healthcare professionals who are infamous for dismissing women’s pain. Diagnosis is also extremely difficult, because in order to receive an official diagnosis a patient must undergo laparoscopic surgery. With the current state of the NHS, this adds another barrier to the process as the longest wait for a gynaecology appointment with NHS Scotland is 188 weeks. As a result, women who suspect they may have endometriosis not only have to fight against their doctors to be heard, but then have to wait over three years to reap the benefits.
The effects, treatment, and difficulty diagnosing endometriosis, would prompt the belief that global health organisations would be investing thousands into research for a cure. Nonetheless, this is, unfortunately, far from the truth. In 2022, the US NIH only allocated 0.038 per cent of their annual budget to endometriosis research. The lack of money donated here demonstrates the utter lack of care for female health problems which have truly devastating effects.
This ultimately demonstrates the severely catastrophic effects of endometriosis of the lives of so many women and hopefully illuminates the necessity that more is done to help and support those who endure the struggle of endometriosis.
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash