March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis is a disease that affects at least 176 million women worldwide. Endometriosis is characterized as having tissue similar to the endometrium—the tissue that lines the uterus—in other places such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowels, and pelvic wall, among others. This tissue should normally be expelled by the body, but with endometriosis, it is unable to exit, causing severe pain and other symptoms.
The following are 7 signs that women may have endometriosis and should consult a specialist:
- Period pain that is not characterized as cramping. This is pain that makes you miss work, school, events, and forces you to lay in be.
- Heavy periods
- Painful intercourse
- Painful bowel movements and diarrhea or constipation
- Pelvic pain even when you don’t have your period
- Nausea/vomiting/bloating
- Infertility/hormone imbalances
All women who have endometriosis do not necessarily have all these symptoms; however, if you experience one or more of these symptoms regularly, consider seeing a specialist to rule out the possibility of endometriosis.
Living with Endometriosis includes expert advice drawn from doctors and researchers tackling this debilitative disease, along with tips for recognizing symptoms and getting the most effective help possible. The book is available to pre-order on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Samantha Bowick has a Master of Public Health degree from Liberty University. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Administration at Columbia Southern University. She is devoted to using her education and experiences to advocate for women who suffer with endometriosis. She currently lives in Aiken, South Carolina.
