Endo Flyer

1 in 10 women and those assigned female of birth of reproductive age in the UK suffer from endometriosis.

10% of women world wide have endometriosis - that’s 176 million worldwide.

The prevalence of endometriosis in women with infertility be as high as to 30–50%.

Endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK.

Endometriosis affects 1.5 million women and those assigned female at birth, a similar number of those affected by diabetes.

On average it takes 8 years from onset of symptoms to get a diagnosis.

Endometriosis costs the UK economy £8.2bn a year in treatment, loss of work and healthcare costs.

The cause of endometriosis is unknown and there is no definite cure.

Getting diagnosed with endometriosis may take some time. The symptoms of endometriosis are very similar to other common conditions. It's important to share as much information with your doctor as possible.

The only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is by a laparoscopy - an operation in which a camera (a laparoscope) is inserted into the pelvis via a small cut near the navel. The surgeon uses the camera to see the pelvic organs and look for any signs of endometriosis. If endometriosis is diagnosed, the endometriosis may be treated or removed for further examination during the laparoscopy.

Scans, blood tests and internal examinations are not a conclusive way to diagnose endometriosis and a normal scan, blood test and internal examination does not mean that you do not have endometriosis.

Because endometriosis manifests itself in a variety of ways and shares symptoms with other conditions, diagnosis can be difficult and often delayed. Recent research shows that there is now an average of 7.5 years between women first seeing a doctor about their symptoms and receiving a firm diagnosis.

Tip: Most GP appointments are 5-10 minutes long – remember you can always ask to book a double appointment, which will give both you and your doctor more time to discuss the issue. What should I say to my GP? It takes around seven to eight years on average for a woman to get diagnosed with endometriosis from the time she starts experiencing symptoms. Whilst this has reduced from the eleven years measured previously, it is still far too long. The symptoms of endometriosis can be wide-ranging and are similar to those of many other conditions, so it is not always apparent straight away that it could be endometriosis that is causing your symptoms. For this reason, it is extremely important that you share as much information as possible about your symptoms with your doctor. This will benefit your care and hopefully speed up diagnosis should you have endometriosis. What will happen at the appointment? The doctor will ask you to describe your symptoms and will ask you questions. For an idea of the type of

questions that may be asked, have a look at the consultation questionnaire. Consider filling it out prior to your appointment so you can take it with you. The GP may want to examine your abdomen, and possibly examine you internally (although you can refuse this if you want). Many with endometriosis find internal examinations uncomfortable; if this is the reason you do not want one, tell the doctor. You are entitled to a chaperone during an examination – just ask if one isn’t offered. You may find that you become emotional when you are telling the doctor about your symptoms. This is perfectly normal and nothing to

feel ashamed or embarrassed about. It may be the first time that you are telling anyone about your symptoms, you may feel embarrassed about the nature of the things you are discussing, or you may not know why you feel emotional. Please remember that the doctor will have seen it all before, many times – possibly even that same day. Will I get a diagnosis from my GP? At the moment, the only way to diagnose endometriosis is through an operation called a laparoscopy; therefore, your GP will be unable to give you a definite diagnosis. If they suspect you have endometriosis, your GP may check you for infections which can mimic symptoms of endometriosis and/or arrange for you to have an ultrasound scan. They can prescribe painkillers to help and/or antispasmodic treatment if you have bowel symptoms and even start treatment with the pill or hormones. 

Endometriosis (pronounced en- doh – mee – tree – oh – sis) is the name given to the condition where

cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body.

Each month these cells react in the same way to those in the womb, building up and then breaking down and bleeding. Unlike the cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, this blood has no way to escape.

In the UK, around 1.5 million women and those assigned female at birth are currently living with the condition, regardless of race or ethnicity. Endometriosis can affect you from puberty to menopause, During the menstrual cycle, the body goes through hormonal changes each month. Hormones are naturally released which cause the lining of the womb to increase in preparation for a fertilized egg. If  pregnancy does not occur, this lining will break down and bleed – this is then released from the body as a period. In endometriosis, cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb grow elsewhere in the body. These cells react to the menstrual cycle each month and also bleed. However, there is no way for this blood to leave the body. This can cause inflammation, pain and the formation of scar tissue. Endometriosis can have a significant impact on a person's life in a number of ways, including: 

• Chronic pain 

• Fatigue/lack of energy

 • Depression/isolation 

• Problems with a couple’s sex life/relationships 

• An inability to conceive 

• Difficulty in fulfilling work and social commitments.

However, with the right endometriosis treatment, many of these issues can be addressed, and the symptoms of endometriosis made more manageable. It’s important to remember that: 

• Endometriosis is not an infection 

• Endometriosis is not contagious 

• Endometriosis is not cancer