"Thanks to the Endometriosis Association, women, girls, and families all over the world have a wealth of information and resources to turn to when coping with Endometriosis." And here is the press release they put out for Endo Awareness Month:
Know the Facts about Endometriosis
March is “Endometriosis Awareness Month”
(Milwaukee, WI) March 2015 – Experts agree that knowing the facts about a disease
that affects more than 6.5 million women in the United States and Canada, and 89
million worldwide – ages 8 to 80, of all income levels and ethnic groups – could help
prevent serious health trouble.
Endometriosis is a hormonal and immune-system disease in which tissue that normally
lines the uterus (endometrium) is also found in other areas such as the abdomen and
on the ovaries, bowel and bladder. It develops into growths that cause pain, bleeding,
formation of scar tissue, and other medical problems. Symptoms to watch for include:
- Painful periods that are not relieved by a heating pad and over-the-counter
- analgesics
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Pain with intercourse
- Heavy or irregular bleeding
- Diarrhea and/or painful bowel movements
- Painful urination
- Infertility
In honor of “Endometriosis Awareness Month” in March, free yellow ribbons and
informational brochures in 30-plus languages are available through the Endometriosis
Association, an international self-help organization that offers mutual support to those
affected by endo, educates the public and the healthcare community about the disease,
and promotes and conducts long-term research.
Endometriosis cannot be confirmed in routine gynecological exams. Diagnosis is
considered uncertain until proven by laparoscopy, a minor surgical procedure done
under anesthesia. A laparoscopy usually shows the location, size, and extent of the
growths. This helps the doctor and patient make better treatment choices.
“It is crucial that women know the symptoms of the disease and that they are taken
seriously when reporting them to their doctors,” said Mary Lou Ballweg, President and
Executive Director of the Endometriosis Association. According to statistics presented
at the World Symposium on Endometriosis by the Endometriosis Association (March
2014), the average delay in diagnosing the disease is ten years. “Receiving an early
diagnosis provides the best opportunity to slow the progression of the disease, allowing
women and girls to engage in normal everyday life. Endometriosis can have a major
physical and psychosocial impact, as well as long term implications for a woman’s
health,” said Ballweg.
The Association funded breakthrough research showing that dioxin and other toxic
chemicals can cause the development of endometriosis and other health problems to
which those with endometriosis are susceptible, including certain cancers and
autoimmune diseases.
For free brochures and yellow ribbons, contact the Endometriosis Association at 1-800-
992-3636 or by email at Support@EndometriosisAssn.org.
Additional information about the disease can be obtained from the Endometriosis
Association’s book, Endometriosis: The Complete Reference for Taking Charge of Your
Health, the Association’s website at www.EndometriosisAssn.org.
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