Painful menstruation is not normal, speak out

Endometriosis is a condition that occurs when tissue in the female anatomy that looks and acts like the uterine lining of the uterus starts to attach or grow in areas other than the inside of the uterus.

When period comes, not only does the lining in the uterus bleed, the endometriosis that has grown in other areas of the body also bleeds.

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These growths called endometrial implants are found on the outside surface of the uterus, the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the ligaments that support the uterus, the intestines, the bladder, on the intestines, in the caesarian-section scars, the internal area between the vagina and rectum, and the lining of the pelvic cavity or other nearby organs, leading to the development of adhesions, scarring, invasive nodules and chocolate cysts.

In even more rare cases, endometriosis has been found inside the vagina, inside the bladder, on the skin, in the lung, spine, and brain.

You may be aware of the fact that endometriosis can damage the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes; but, did you know the following about endometriosis?

1. It is benign but has features similar to some cancers.

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2. It can spread, invade and cause damage to many organs beyond the reproductive system.

The month of March is and we want to use this opportunity in creating the awareness of the disease as it affects an estimated 1 in 10 women and girls during their reproductive years (i.e. usually between the ages of 15 to 44 years), which is approximately 176 million women in the world.

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Endometriosis can start as early as a girl’s first period and develops into random spells of very painful, heavy, difficult or irregular monthly menstruation periods, painful ovulation, and pain during and after sexual intercourse, which could transcend into abnormal bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, and infertility if not detected early or left to develop into different stages of the disease. This has a devastating impact on general physical, mental, psychological, and social wellbeing of the sufferer.

A general lack of awareness combined with a “normalization” of symptoms, makes endometriosis often go undiagnosed for an average of years from the initial symptoms because, the pain may be mistaken for normal menstrual cramping, and it can mimic other diseases. As a result, preteens and teenagers have particularly high rates of misdiagnosis. Resulting in a significant delay from when a woman first experiences symptom until she is eventually diagnosed and commences treatment. It is astonishingly discouraging to know that endometriosis has no known cause or cure!

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It can be managed with drugs but, these treatments have a higher rate of heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.

Multiple surgeries are required to treat endometriosis and this, increases the risks associated in surgery-related morbidity and mortality. If not detected early and treated properly, endometriosis can be a serious, painful, and debilitating disease with severe medical consequences. That's why we are #EndoMarching for Awareness; to encourage girls and women to “End the Silence!”

Please help us end the silence about endometriosis, so women and girls worldwide can receive the proper diagnosis, care, and hopefully a cure.

Endomarch is a road walk awareness where women battling endometriosis and their supporters take a stand against endometriosis to end the lifelong scourge of this debilitating disease.

Endomarch 2016 is scheduled to take place on the 19th of March from 7am-10am. The march will take off from Maryland and end at the , Lagos State.

Dress Code: Yellow Polos