National Endometriosis Awareness Month
March 18, 2019
Endometriosis is often a painful disorder that affects women in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus, the endometrium, grows outside of the uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining your pelvis.
Symptoms include:
- Painful periods
- Pain with intercourse
- Pain with bowel movements or urination
- Excessive bleeding
- Infertility
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Bloating or nausea
There are several factors that place you at a greater risk of developing endometriosis such as:
- Never giving birth
- Starting your period at an early age
- Going through menopause at an older age
- Short menstrual cycles
- Having higher levels of estrogen
- Low body mass index
- Alcohol consumption
- One or more relatives with endometriosis
- Uterine abnormalities
Ways you can raise awareness include:
- Get talking: the simplest way to raise awareness is simply by talking about endometriosis, whether that be to friends, family, or coworkers.
- Join an event: take part in an endometriosis march near you!
- Take to social media: get online and share facts about endometriosis or even your own experiences and feelings towards the disease.
- Sign and share petitions
- Educate: read books, online articles, and websites to improve your knowledge on the disease.
- Share your story: you can share your endometriosis story by writing blogs, contacting media outlets, or through posting on other blogs or social media accounts.
Donate to the Endometriosis Foundation of America to help support increasing disease recognition, providing advocacy, facilitating expert surgical training and funding landmark endometriosis research by clicking here.