Is endometriosis a silent killer?

Endometriosis is a chronic disease that often goes unnoticed but is common in women, and it can be life-threatening if left untreated. Endometriosis is often labelled as 'the missed disease' or 'silent killer' because it is a chronic disease, which is under-diagnosed, under-reported, and under-researched.


Is endometriosis a silent disease?

One of the most common gynecological diseases, endometriosis often goes undetected for years because the abdominal pain associated with the condition is mistaken for menstrual cramps, or because there may be no symptoms.

How do you mentally deal with endometriosis?

How to cope with endometriosis
  1. Watch your diet. Eating the right foods may provide some protection against endometriosis. ...
  2. Work out regularly. Often, people who experience pain fear exercising, in case it causes more problems for them. ...
  3. Manage your stress levels. ...
  4. Try alternative therapies. ...
  5. Consider medications.


What happens if you ignore endometriosis?

If left untreated, endometriosis can progress and become severe, which can lead to other conditions such as infertility. Endometriosis can also increase your risk of certain cancers.

Is endometriosis considered a serious illness?

Endometriosis has significant social, public health and economic implications. It can decrease quality of life due to severe pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and infertility.


Endometriosis | A Silent Disease



What diseases are linked to endometriosis?

The studies quantified an association between endometriosis and several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), autoimmune thyroid disorder, coeliac disease (CLD), multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and Addison's ...

Why is endometriosis not taken seriously?

Endometriosis also does not conform neatly to biomedical models of disease, meaning disease extent doesn't always equate to symptom severity. Some women with endometriosis may have few symptoms, but have extensive “endo” (tissue), whereas others may experience severe pain, but have a small amount of endo tissue.

Can endometriosis spread to other organs?

Endometriosis often involves the pelvic tissue and can envelop the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It can affect nearby organs, including the bowel and bladder. So during the menstrual cycle, or period, this tissue responds to hormones, and due to its location, frequently results in pain.


Why do doctors ignore endometriosis?

That's partly because there's a lack of awareness in the medical community about how the disease manifests and partly because doctors are especially poor at identifying painful gastrointestinal symptoms as potential endometriosis, she said.

Do you have endometriosis for life?

There is no cure for endometriosis. However, medications and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms. For some, menopause may help clear the condition. Others may find that taking hormonal treatments for menopause causes their symptoms to worsen or come back.

Can endometriosis move to your brain?

Endometriosis is typically found in the pelvic region but can occur elsewhere if the endometrial cells manage to enter the blood or lymphatic fluid. In extremely unusual instances, endometrial tissue is found in the brain, a condition called cerebral endometriosis.


What causes endometriosis to act up?

High levels of estrogen and stress hormone and low levels of progesterone worsen this inflammation. Common causes of endo attacks include stress, bad sleep, and pro-inflammatory foods such as caffeine, alcohol, and red meat.

Is endometriosis hard to live with?

Living with endometriosis can be difficult. First, the condition is often difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat. Second, symptoms like pain, digestive problems, and infertility can significantly impact your quality of life.

Will endometriosis get worse if untreated?

Endometriosis does not resolve on its own. If you experience pain and other symptoms, these symptoms will remain unless you receive treatment. In some cases, your symptoms may get worse. In addition to pelvic pain, infertility is another common complication of endometriosis.


Does endometriosis get worse with age?

Why get it checked out. Endometriosis is typically a progressive condition, meaning it can get worse over time (29). Infertility is a common complication of endometriosis that may be avoidable with early treatment. Up to half of those with endometriosis have decreased fertility (30).

Why is so little known about endometriosis?

The lack of medical research on endometriosis leads to less medical education on the disease, and can result in serious delays in the period of time it takes to receive an endometriosis diagnosis and how much your doctors understand about the condition.

Can you live with endometriosis without surgery?

The most common treatments for endometriosis that do not require surgery are hormone therapy and pain management. Endometriosis tissues are affected by hormones in the same way as endometrial tissues inside the uterus. Hormone changes that occur with a menstrual cycle can make endometriosis pain worse.


How disabling is endometriosis?

For many women, endometriosis is extremely disabling and prevents them from carrying out day to day activities. However, there are many women who are able to carry out day to day activities. Women may be disadvantaged by endometriosis being recognised as a disability, particularly in the workplace.

What is Endo belly?

Endo belly is the colloquial term for abdominal distension caused by endometriosis. Unlike the short-term bloating that sometimes accompanies your period, endo belly is much more severe, triggering physical, mental, and emotional symptoms.

Can I pass endometriosis to my daughter?

Endometriosis can be inherited via the maternal or paternal family line. Researchers are currently studying theories about its causes and risk factors. Some possible causes of endometriosis include: Complications from surgical scarring.


Does endometriosis affect your eyes?

Women in the deep endometriosis group had a statistically significant excess of blue eyes and a reduced proportion of brown eyes compared with the two control groups (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively).

Does endometriosis cause a shorter lifespan?

It is estimated that the incidence of DIE is around 20% of women with endometriosis [18].

Which patient has the highest risk for endometriosis?

Studies show that women are at higher risk for endometriosis if they:
  • Have a mother, sister, or daughter with endometriosis. ...
  • Started their periods at an early age (before age 11) ...
  • Have short monthly cycles (less than 27 days) ...
  • Have heavy menstrual periods that last more than 7 days. ...
  • Are infertile.


What endometriosis does to your body?

You might have ongoing pain or intense cramps during your period, and some women also experience heavy bleeding during their periods. Endometriosis can also cause pain with sexual intercourse, bloating, and nausea. If tissue growth affects your bowels, you might have constipation, diarrhea, or painful bowel movements.

How old are most people with endometriosis?

Endometriosis can affect women across all ethnic backgrounds and at any age, but it most commonly affects women during their reproductive years between the ages of 25 and 35. It is believed that there are an estimated 10% of women suffering with the condition in the United States, but many women remain undiagnosed.
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