What is Endometriosis?

March is Endometriosis Month!

Endometriosis can have a significant effect on women’s lives. Pain with your period every month impacts work and family life.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic, benign, inflammatory disease. It is influenced by hormones and often changes around menstruation each month. It can unfortunately take a long time for to get a confirmed diagnosis, but a women’s health physiotherapist can help you with your symptoms during this time and after your diagnosis going forward.

Endometriosis is a common disease in which the tissue that is similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it in other parts of the body.

· It is estimated over 830,000 (more than 11%) of Australian women suffer from endometriosis.

· Endometriosis often starts in the teenage years.

· Symptoms can vary and this may contribute to up to a 12 year delay in diagnosis.

· Common symptoms include severe pelvic pain that interferes normal function before or during a woman’s period.

· In Australian, endometriosis is reported to cost $9.7 billion annually. Two-thirds of these costs are attributed to a loss in productivity and one third ($2.5 billion) being direct healthcare costs.

I have experience in treating endometriosis and have helped many women over the years to reduce endometriosis pain and discomfort or pain during sex. Pelvic health physiotherapy will include a thorough assessment and treatment which may include pelvic floor rehabilitation and relaxation techniques, exercise advice and self-management strategies.