Chronic pain could be endometriosis

If you have chronic period pain you need to investigate the cause as it could be endometriosis, said Dr Fuziwe Dlakavu.

Dlakavu is an obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Netcare Olivedale Hospital. “Endometriosis happens when tissue which lines the cavity of the womb grows outside the womb in places where it should not grow,” explained Dlakavu. “It may occur on other areas of the pelvic and abdominal area.”

She added that women between the age of 15 to 45 years old were most at risk. “If you have period pain long before and long after your menstrual cycle, you might have it. Other symptoms you need to look out for is heavy menstruation, painful intercourse or pelvic pain.”

Endometriosis mainly effects the uterus, ovaries, vagina, tubes, ligaments, bowel and bladder, but it could also spread to the brain or lungs. According to Dlakavu women may only find out they have endometriosis when they seek medical advice for infertility. “In some cases infertility may be the only symptom although not all women who are diagnosed with endometriosis are necessarily infertile. With the treatment we try to save the fertility as much as possible.”

There is no single treatment that works for all women. “There are medications that can reduce your pain or suppress active endometriotic lesions or preserve your fertility. A surgical option is the laparoscopy which helps treat endometriosis.”