March is observed globally as endometriosis awareness month, with the aim of increasing knowledge of the very prevalent condition, encourage women who are battling it, and acknowledge those who have fought with it. To many teens, it might just sound like another condition that you can get when you get older, but it is most prevalent in women of childbearing age – that is, yikes – young women.

Read on for a few facts about Endo that might surprise you.

It affects one in every 10 women of reproductive age

The age range in which endo is most prevalent is between the ages of 15 to 49, but basically, if you have started menstruating, there is a 10% chance that you will develop endometriosis before you hit menopause.

It has no known cause

Endometriosis is the condition that causes tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) to develop elsewhere in the body. This tissue acts just like the unterine lining, so every month it breaks down and ‘bleed’, causing scar tissue to build up wherever they are.

It is not limited to the reproductive system

Although endo tissue is normally confined to areas in the pelvis such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and pelvic side-wall, the tissue also rarely develops in places such as inside the bladder, on the skin, in the lungs, spine, and even the brain.

You might think it’s just bad periods

On average, it takes eight to 10 years for endo to be diagnosed. This is in part due to the fact that its main symptom is pain in the pelvic area, which is often thought to be menstrual cramps. The pain often correlates to the menstrual cycle, but a woman with endometriosis may also experience pain that doesn’t correlate to her cycle, i.e. more pain.

There is no cure

The pain from endometriosis can become so bad that women are not able to lead normal lives. While pain medication can sometimes reduce the pain, and surgery can remove some of the scar tissue, it will not stop them from growing back, or growing in other places.

It might prevent you from having children

While pregnancy is not on your agenda for the next few years, it is important to know that the condition is estimated to cause 30 to 40 per cent of women to not be able to have children.

You may never know that you have endo

Because pain has become somewhat normalized around the time of a woman’s period, even women with excruciating pain may suffer in silence, think that it is supposed to happen, making it less likely that she will seek treatment. There are also other conditions, such as dysmenorrhea, that cause painful periods, so it is not easy to diagnose. Preteens and teenagers are especially tricky to diagnose, because, let’s face it, our menstrual cycles are all over the place sometimes. So many things can go wrong.

So what can you do?

Pay attention to your body. Don’t be afraid to admit that you are feeling pain, and let it be known by your parents and your doctor. If it is a constant pain for you each month, make a note of when the pain starts, when it goes away, and how long it lasts. Bring it up with your school nurse, if you must. The earlier endo is diagnosed, the better your options for treatment will be.

Read more about endometriosis here, and tell your sisters all about it.

–C.K