Keeping a tab on your health is extremely vital and this is especially true for women. We might have come a long way in battling the stereotypes around menstruation (and also inventing a period emoji), this Women's Day, we urge you to focus on your health.

March is commemorated as the Endometriosis month. For a problem as potentially risky as this, a lot of people, including women themselves, don't know about. Endometriosis is a condition when your monthly periods become extremely painful and threatening for your health and can also hamper your fertility. As per statistics published in Endometriosis society, close to 25 million women in India alone are victims of this silent killer condition. The stigma around endometriosis is so far spread; the symptoms are simply brushed off as period pain symptoms. In the recent years, a lot many celebs including the likes of Katrina Kaif, Padma Lakshmi and Lena Dunham have opened up about their struggle with the condition just to break away the taboo and raise awareness about the same. If you, too, have been dreading the monthly periods and the pain that comes along and suspect something of concern, here are some things you should know about. What is endometriosis exactly? Endometriosis is a condition which largely affects women between the age group of 25-50 but can also be detected as early as age 12. It is a condition when the uterine lining tissue, usually found inside starts to grow outside and spreads to the uterus, abdominal lining as well as the bladder. Thus, during your menstruation cycle, the tissue lining swells up and pains and the blood flow also thickens up. Women who suffer from the problem tend to undergo heavier periods than normal and also experience pain outside the normal threshold.
According to Dr. Sonia Naik, Head of Unit, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Max Super Specialty Hospital, the blood accumulated inside the ovaries, causes cysts and this in turn affects the intensity of pain. This can also be experienced during ovulation, passing urine, stools or sexual intercourse. Endometriosis takes a heavy toll on a woman's hormones, fertility as well as mental health as it can become extremely difficult to manage the pain. In most cases, women themselves brush off the pain thinking they have a low tolerance but doctors warn to never do so. Signs and symptoms What differentiates normal menstrual pain and cramps (which are caused by prostaglandins spread during the cycle) and endometriosis pain is the length and intensity of it. While cramps are usually present in the initial two days of your cycle, endometriosis symptoms increase and get worse with every passing day and can even last upto two weeks post the cycle's end. If you are concerned, look out for these trivial signs:
-Experiencing more frequent and intense pain during periods as compared to before.
-Excessive bleeding
-If you begin to face digestive issues during and before your cycle.
-Chronic inflammation and swelling near the abdomen and pelvis
-Facing pain during intercourse
-Infertility issues

One of the biggest reasons why endometriosis becomes a cause of concern is because it can trigger infertility and ovarian cancer in some patients. Due to an excessive secretion of hormones in the body, there is a possible imbalance in the fertility organs.

Treatment options

Diagnosing endometriosis can be very difficult and hence, it is very crucial that women know the signs and symptoms. The severity of the condition and its treatment depends on the stage at which you are detected. While in the initial stages, the symptoms may not be even experienced or managed, when it progresses to the later stage, it can hamper day-to-day activities too.

Ultrasounds and vaginal checks are usually ordered after which, hormone therapy is advised which can help manage your symptoms better. While endometriosis cannot be completely cured, doctors can offer you medication and lifestyle suggestions to battle the intensity of your pain. Usually, progesterone supplements to battle the estrogen exposure and inflammation cutting medicines are suggested for the same. Women, who get detected in their early ages, are advised to plan for a baby so that their menstrual cycles are controlled for some effective years. Thus, many doctors often advise women to have a baby or save their eggs to not risk infertility. If endometriosis reaches more potentially risky stages and hampers functioning of your other organs, surgery is advised but according to our doctor, this should always be the last option to consider.

Apart from this, making alterations in your lifestyle can help you live your life in a better way. Exercising regularly, practicing yoga, eating well, can help keep a check on your digestion as well, maintain weight as well as not alleviate the pain experienced with endometriosis.

Source: indiatimes.com