Endometriosis is a long-term condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Symptoms include pain in your lower tummy or back, severe period pain and pain during or after sex.
"One in ten women in the UK have endometriosis"
One in ten women in the UK have endometriosis – and manage it. Endometriosis can sometimes cause complications, especially if not found and treated early. Like many other illnesses, treatment for endometriosis has taken a back seat due to the pandemic. Gabriella Ferlita speaks to two women with the condition about how COVID-19 has affected them.
Josephine Martin, a midwifery student, 19, was diagnosed with thoracic endometriosis at age 16, a rare form of the condition where endometrial tissue builds up around the lungs and chest cavity.
“I was in so much pain that I literally couldn’t even get out of bed. I was in crippling pain, and because it’s thoracic it can affect my breathing as well. I get really short of breath so that can affect me daily. Things I used to be able to do, I can’t really do as well anymore,” Martin explains.
Thoracic endometriosis is estimated to be found in up to 10% of endometriosis cases, according to Endometriosis UK. Thoracic endometriosis is often accompanied with asthma, putting women with the condition at greater risk of suffering from the debilitating effects of COVID-19 . Women like Martin.
The midwifery student also suffers from anaemia due to the heavy menstrual bleeding caused by her endometriosis. Normally, she has a blood test every six weeks, but they have been postponed due to the NHS’ effort to combat the pandemic.
“These days they’re so busy they’re just trying to get you in, out, in, out. They don’t really have the time for anything else,” Martin says with a sigh, displaying signs of her physical exhaustion.
Martin is one of the lucky few who is not currently on a waiting list for elective surgery for her chronic disorder and instead is able to use an inhaler and heartburn tablets to manage her breathing difficulties, along with a blood-clotting drug for heavy menstrual bleeding.
“I don’t feel the need to go through all that surgery and pain because it’s manageable. I’m now on tranexamic acid which is a God-given medication,” Martin says.
Thanks to Martin’s treatment plan, which was mapped out long before the pandemic began, she does not face the reality of her condition worsening. It’s a reality that could result in a hysterectomy too soon, and too young.
Those heavy and painful periods you may be experiencing? It’s best to get them checked out by your GP to rule out endometriosis. If you do suffer with heavy and painful periods, Endometriosis UK recommends investing in a hot water bottle, or taking a warm bath to relax tired muscles. Before you reach for those over-the-counter pain meds, consider whether you experience IBS flare-ups around the time of your period, and avoid codeine if so. Exercise may be the last thing on your mind if you’re feeling sluggish, but gentle exercises such as yoga or Pilates can strengthen pelvic floor muscles and manage those feelings of stress and anxiety.
When Carla Marie Cressy was diagnosed with endometriosis at age 25, she jumped at the chance to help others with the condition by creating her own charity, The Endometriosis Foundation.
"I understood what depression and loneliness felt like when it came to living with endometriosis"
“I started the foundation because I understood what depression and loneliness felt like when it came to living with endometriosis,” says Cressy, 29, who was diagnosed 11 years after she began experiencing symptoms of the chronic disorder.
“By then, it was too late. Endometriosis at this point had progressed to my bladder and my bowel, and I could no longer have children. I also had a frozen pelvis and I’m now recovering currently from a hysterectomy and an ileostomy,” Cressy says.
Cressy has seen first-hand how COVID-19 has affected women with the chronic condition.
“The pandemic has affected everybody, GP visits are limited, treatments are being cancelled or postponed, and unfortunately because of this, many women continue to suffer,” she tells me.
Although the charity is in its infancy, The Endometriosis Foundation has hosted events at various venues around the country, including the Houses of Parliament. The charity also provides an ever-growing online support group for over 8,000 women living with the condition.
The current climate is bleak for those with endometriosis, but Cressy’s outlook on her charity’s aim remains positive.
"I'm hopeful with time we can change this"
“Unfortunately, many women and girls have not received any information or guidance about their diagnosis, never mind anything else. There is nowhere near enough communication between the NHS and charities like us, however I’m hopeful with time we can change this.”
She Her Them magazine are not medical professionals. Please consult your GP if you think you have symptoms of endometriosis or are having concerns about any medications you are taking to relieve your endometriosis symptoms.