72% of women with endometriosis reported having 8 or more symptoms that interfere with their daily life and activities. If you or someone you love has endometriosis, learning more about this condition is the first step in supporting each other.
Impact on Body
Endometriosis is a painful disorder in which, tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus starts to grow on the outside. This worsens with the hormonal changes of a woman’s monthly cycle causing small bleeds inside the pelvis. The result is inflammation, pain, and scarring of the normal tissue surrounding the growths.
Symptoms of endometriosis include:
- Abnormal or heavy menstrual flow
- Excessive menstrual cramp pain
- Pain during intercourse
- Infertility
- Pain during bowel movements
Impact on Work
Women lose about a quarter of their workweek to absenteeism and lost productivity due to endometriosis-related pain. Most women diagnosed feel their quality of work suffers tremendously. and, on an average, have missed 19 days (in a year) due to endometriosis symptoms, treatments, surgeries, and recovery. That is higher than those reported for different pain conditions such as headaches, arthritis, and back pain.
Impact on Social Life
Endometriosis encompasses both physical and emotional effects. Many women experience symptoms for years before being diagnosed, thus suffering from an invisible illness that can be hard for others to understand. Symptoms are somewhat unpredictable and plans for an evening out with friends, and other fun social gatherings are often canceled. In addition, some physical activities may worsen symptoms, and plans stop being made altogether.
Hope for Effective Treatments for ALL Women
Researchers are trying to find different options for women with endometriosis. Every woman’s body is diverse, and each has a different health history. These factors sometimes interfere with their ability to achieve successful relief of symptoms. Through clinical research studies, hope is on the horizon for those who remain without adequate treatment.
Cedar Health is currently conducting clinical studies and is seeking volunteers to evaluate potential new options for endometriosis. To learn more, click here.
