Endometriosis Awareness Month
Posted on March 24, 2023
This month is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and we spoke with Gynaecologist Dr Lynda Croft who gave her thoughts on diagnosing and managing Endometriosis.
“This is a big health issue, too big to ignore. This means that roughly 1 in 10 girls, women and those assigned female at birth in New Zealand will have endometriosis. In most cases, there can be symptoms including period pain, pelvic pain and sub-fertility or infertility. Also bowel symptoms, bloating and pain with intercourse. (NZ end.org.nz)
Endometriosis is where the tissue that lines the uterus is found outside of the uterus, usually on the uterine support tissue, or under the ovary and sometimes on the bowel.
Periods can be uncomfortable but should not be that severe that they cause distress, and needing time off work or school.
There are many ways to manage endometriosis, including surgery, medical treatment and life style changes. Nutrition, exercise and self management techniques also play a large role.
Surgery is the only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis. Asking about your symptoms and examining you can certainly suggest that it might be the cause of what is happening to you.
You can self refer to a gynaecologist to discuss your symptoms and what you have been doing so far, or your GP can refer you. It is often helpful for you to be referred by your doctor so that you don’t have to double up on tests and there is a good summery of what has been happening so far.
It is a complex problem that we don’t have all the answers to, however there are many ways that your symptoms can be helped.”
