Creating an Awareness on Endometriosis: The Unpredictable Disorder.

“Endo What???” Someone asked…

There are times when pelvic pains occur before menstruation and lessens after menstruation in females. Presently, it is a prevalent disorder and is silently creeping in young girls from age of 15.

Endometriosis is an abnormal growth of cells affecting an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years; usually between 15-49 years, which is approximately 176 million women in the world. This disease cannot be so easily generalised. Sometimes it affects women who have had children and it can also occur in teenagers.

It is advised to pay attention to girls even in secondary school when they complain of lower pelvic pain or screech/winch in pain during their menstruation , react to chemical sensitivities, or feel fatigued. Although there are Endometriosis treatment like – pain medications, hormonal therapy, conservative surgery, Danazol, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GRNH) agonists and antagonists, etc. Kindly refer the person to a medical practitioner first of all, because Endometriosis have different stages and complexities.

It is also the lining of a woman’s womb outside where it is normally located. It affects the productivity and psyche of a woman, hence, leading to depression.

Endometrial tissue, whether it is inside or outside the uterus, responds to the rise and fall of oestrogen and progesterone produced by the ovaries during the reproductive cycle. The roles hormones play in the function of the reproductive organs will help you understand endometriosis, its diagnosis, and treatment.

As impacting change Ambassadors, we raise the disease awareness, educate women and the public- as well as Healthcare professionals- on #endometriosis.

We aspire for improved healthcare given to girls, women, diagnosed with Endometriosis and excellent menstrual hygiene.

As at September 2018, we had Health professionals and Practitioners at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and Academy at Ikeja, Lagos. Females in Secondary schools, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Medical students from the South Western Region graced the First ever Endometriosis Conference in Nigeria.

The highly esteemed Professor Bolade Afolabi; the HOD, O&G Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Dr. Dorcas Shonibare; Director of Nursing Services, Lagos State Ministry of Health in an expository talk show.

One wonderful pioneer woman was also Madame Olivia Nwakundu, a 2018 MWF fellow and the Founder of the EndoSurvivors International Foundation.

For more information, enquiry or collaboration, kindly check www.endofound.org