43 million women in India suffer from endometriosis

As many as 43 million women in India suffer from endometriosis, while the painful gynaecological condition affects roughly 190 million girls and women of reproductive age worldwide

Though there is no known way to prevent endometriosis, early diagnosis, and management can help slow down “the natural progression of the disease and reduce the long-term burden of its symptoms”, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).

The symptoms of endometriosis can vary from person to person and may not correlate with the severity of endometriosis. Most women with endometriosis tend to have painful periods which may be attributed to the normal menstrual cramps and diagnosis is often delayed, according to experts.

Excessive pain during menstruation (dysmenorrhea), painful intercourse (dyspareunia), chronic pelvic pain, severe backache, or constant painful urge to defecate during and around periods are some of the red flags. In addition, difficulty getting pregnant (infertility) can also be associated with endometriosis, the experts said.

There has been some evidence to show that endometriosis can, in some cases, raise the risk of endometrial cancer. This underscores the importance of awareness and early detection efforts.

Hormone therapy may help ease endometriosis symptoms, but laparoscopy may be a better treatment option.