Though we have ushered in a new month, let’s not restrict Endometriosis Awareness March. It’s important to still keep the discussion going about this illness that affects roughly 10 per cent of reproductive age women globally.

In Jamaica more than 100,000 women have been diagnosed with endometriosis, and there may be several more living with it undiagnosed. Keep reading to find out more about what endometriosis is, how to spot it, and how using new tools of digital health care can help you manage this illness in today’s world.

What is endometriosis

Endometriosis is when the tissue that lines the inside of your uterus, the endometrium, grows outside of the uterus. This usually affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining your pelvis. Endometrial-like tissue will rarely be found beyond the pelvic region.

Endometrial-like tissue, for patients with endometriosis, acts as it typically would. The tissue thickens, breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. However, because it is growing outside of its intended region it has no way to exit your body and instead becomes trapped.

Symptoms of endometriosis

Endometriosis is often associated with very painful periods, far more extreme than usual, however, the symptoms of endometriosis are very different for each patient. Some may have severe pain but less severe tissue growth while some may have severe tissue growth and less pain. Pain may also increase over time as tissue growth increases. For others, symptoms not related to pain — such as infertility — may be the most challenging symptom for them.

Symptoms of endometriosis include:

• Painful periods

• Pelvic pain and cramping before, during and/or after

menstrual cycles

• Lower back pain

• Abdominal pain

• Pain during or after sexual intercourse

• Pain with bowel movements or urination

• Excessive bleeding during menstrual cycles (heavy

periods)

• Infertility

• Fatigue

•Bloating

• Nausea

• Constipation and/or diarrhoea.

Many of these symptoms are common signs of other illnesses such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ovarian cysts or inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS). This may lead to a misdiagnosis of symptoms and cause the disorder to continue, causing damage if left untreated. Consult with a gynaecologist if you have one or more of the above symptoms or feel you may be at risk for endometriosis. Additionally, if you don’t have any of these symptoms, regular checks with your gynaecologist are crucial to monitor any changes or abnormalities that might occur in your reproductive system.

Endometriosis treatment

If you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis your treatment plan will be specially created to fit your personal experience and symptoms. Patients of endometriosis may not have the same symptoms or severity of symptoms and may require different methods of treatment. The following are the most common types of treatment plans for endometriosis patients.

• Pain medication — over the counter or prescription pain relievers may be recommended to help your pain levels during your menstrual cycle.

• Hormone therapy — hormone medication may slow endometrial tissue growth and prevent new growth of it. This isn’t a permanent fix, however, and issues may return after treatment is stopped.

• Laparoscopic surgery — this surgery can be done to enter the affected region and remove endometrial tissue. Most cases of endometriosis, regardless of how severe, can be treated with this type of surgery.

• Fertility treatment — if you wish to have a child or children and are having trouble because of endometriosis, your doctor may recommend fertility treatment to make your desire a reality.

• Hysterectomy with removal of ovaries — while your symptoms may be lessened by surgery to remove the tissue alone, removing the entire uterus and ovaries may also be an option. Symptoms such as heavy bleeding and cramping in the uterus may be relieved by this method. Additionally, those who are not interested in having children may benefit from this.

Treating endometriosis with telemedicine

In the age of technology and convenience, getting treated online by a doctor via telemedicine has proven to be an invaluable addition to health care, and endometriosis treatment is no exception. Having access to your gynaecologist online will be a great benefit on days where your endometriosis symptoms may have you feeling less than up to sitting in a doctor’s office or even leaving your home. If you have regular prescriptions for painkillers or hormone treatment, an online doctor can quickly rewrite your prescription and send it to your pharmacy to have it refilled, with little inconvenience to you.

Additionally, if you haven’t been diagnosed with endometriosis but are concerned about some of the symptoms you may be experiencing, an online consultation with a gynaecologist is a quick and easy way to see what your next steps may be. You will be able to describe your symptoms and concerns and be guided on whether or not the next step should be a physical exam or if you can be sufficiently treated through other means.

Endometriosis is a common disorder affecting millions of women worldwide. Effective treatment and management can be accessed quite easily by those diagnosed or concerned about a diagnosis. Digital health care is just one type of new technology that can make a life with endometriosis easier to navigate. Consult with your gynaecologist today for more information on the disorder and what you may look out for to gauge your level of risk of diagnosis.

Dr Ché Bowen, a digital health entrepreneur and family physician, is the CEO & founder of MDLink, a digital health company that provides telemedicine options. Check out the company’s website at www.theMDLink.com. You can also contact him at drchebowen@themdlink.com.