For more than half of a woman’s life, she will be experiencing countless cycles of menstruation. Some women have it easy, while others dread it. If you belong to the latter, then you are not alone.
When experiencing abnormalities in your body, your menstrual cycle, or your reproductive health, consulting an experienced gynecologist in West Jordan or any other location is a must. However, because menstruation is still considered a taboo topic by a lot of people, talking about your struggles with menstruation, infertility, or even discomfort can be challenging.
But knowledge and information are key and this guide aims to help you embrace the reality and abnormalities of menstruation, as well as understand a common but lesser-known reproductive condition known as Endometriosis.
Extremely painful period cramps are not normal
Feeling a sense of discomfort or pain during that time of the month is normal, but being in debilitating pain is not. There is a thin line between being in pain and being in severe pain, especially because people’s pain threshold varies.
People who are in normal menstrual pain will find relief in putting a hot pack in the pelvic area or taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. For people who have severe pain, none of these home remedies or over-the-counter medication usually works. Severe pain that cannot be managed with common treatments is often a sign of Endometriosis.
Proper diagnosis usually takes a long time
Endometriosis is a condition where the lining of the uterus (endometrium). It is found in other parts of the body such as the ovary and fallopian tube, among others. Because the lining is shed out in the form of periods monthly, the lining found in other organs also mimics the “shedding”. This causes extreme pain and a variety of other symptoms for someone with Endometriosis. It also causes adhesions and inflammation, which contributes to the pain.
Endometriosis tissues are not something that can be detected with a simple ultrasound or X-ray. In fact, you can have perfectly normal pelvic ultrasound results but can have numerous adhesions inside. This is one of the reasons proper diagnosis of Endometriosis often takes long, with some people suffering for decades before having a name to their condition. The only way to definitively diagnose Endometriosis is through an invasive surgery known as laparoscopy.
There is no cure, but there are ways to manage it
Surgery won’t cure Endometriosis. It will just remove the tissues on the wrong organs, but the possibility of it recurring is high. In fact, there is no cure for Endometriosis. However, there are many ways to manage it and live a normal life. Having a diet that does not trigger inflammation, living in a relaxed environment, and changing your lifestyle to accommodate your condition can help you manage the symptoms and be relieved of the pain.
Are you suffering from severe menstrual pain and you don’t know what to do? Consult your doctor to get a proper diagnosis and live a more comfortable life that is free from pain.
