Endometriosis is a disease that has had some women suffer silently and also ashamed publicly due to infertility and also constant pain that limits their performance. Research shows that it may be passed from one generation to another and thus tends to be worse in each following generation.
Women should ensure they go for check-ups if they have the symptoms of the following symptoms: back pain during periods, severe menstrual cramps, pain when using the bathroom, especially during your period, unusual or heavy bleeding during periods, diarrhoea or constipation, painful coitus, fatigue that would not go away and trouble getting pregnant.
The society we live in has taught us to use strong painkillers and also to run or walk constantly so as to stop the cramping. This is true, but what if one is at the severe stage? Whereby there may be large cysts in the ovaries or many lesions which may cause ovarian cancer or cancer associated with endometriosis called adenocarcinoma.
In addition, this disease also causes the affected to have anxiety and depression. One may dislike themselves especially when feeling the pain. Also, those affected risk losing their jobs or opportunities as they may be unable to do much for days, owing to the pain.
With this, the affected may fall into depression as they are always being fired from their jobs. These women may be our mothers, sisters, cousins, colleagues, friends, girlfriends or even schoolmates, thus society should be able to get awareness of how this disease may affect them both directly and indirectly.
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Another factor is infertility at a very young age because when endometrial tissue wraps around your ovaries, it can block your eggs from releasing or also the tissue can block the sperm, from making its way up your fallopian tubes.
Despite there being treatment, the Ministry of Health should help in funding free checkups as it is expensive. Thanks to organizations such as the Inua Dada Foundation by Janet Mbugua, a media personality and Endometriosis Foundation Kenya, a member of the World Endometriosis Organization, that have helped women to be self-aware through digital platforms, through advocating to end the silence and shame for those affected financially and emotionally.
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The government should try to reach remote areas and make sure that their hospitals are well-equipped and can offer imaging tests, laparoscopy, biopsy and also pelvic exams. In addition, there should be awareness campaigns that also teach lifestyle practices to fight endometriosis which is much cheaper.
Also with these coming campaigns, those who want to vie for women’s representative seats should have this issue on their agenda. To help women from suffering and to make treatment much cheaper. Not forgetting our candidates who should be given free sanitary pads to help them do their exams efficiently.
