Dr Donna Tanchev

Endometriosis is more than a painful period

By Dr Donna Tanchev, Her Medical

ENDOMETRIOSIS HAPPENS WHEN TISSUE SIMILAR TO THE LINING OF THE UTERUS (WOMB) GROWS OUTSIDE OF THE UTERUS, IN THE OVARIES, FALLOPIAN TUBES OR THE INTESTINES.

One in nine women will suffer with endometriosis. More than 830,000 (more than 11 percent) of Australian women, girls, and those who are gender diverse suffer from endometriosis at some point in their life with the disease often starting in teenage years.

Importantly, there is a delay to diagnosis by seven years, which can impact a womans' ability to fall pregnant, as well as affect her general health and wellbeing.

Common symptoms include painful periods, pelvic pain and cramping (which may occur throughout the whole month), pain with intercourse, altered bowel movements or urination, excessive bleeding and infertility.

Endometriosis is more than a “bad period”, and if you find yourself needing to take days off school or work, that is not normal and it should be investigated.

An operation, usually a day procedure, called a diagnostic laparoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosis of endometriosis. This allows for the excision of abnormal tissue which improves pain and also fertility. Important to note, a normal ultrasound does not rule out endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a whole body chronic disease and it requires a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.

Dietary changes to include or exclude some key food groups and a low fodmap diet may help in reducing the symptoms of pelvic pain and bloating. Physiotherapy can work together in a holistic approach to treating this whole body, chronic disease by working to improve pelvic floor function/ dysfunction.

Endometriosis Australia is an excellent, factual resource for accurate and up to date information on all things related to endometriosis. Find a doctor who specialises in endometriosis and is proactive about your health, who can refer you to the appropriate specialities and optimise outcomes of this debilitating gynaecological condition.

DR DONNA TANCHEV Principal General Practitioner

Dr Donna is the principal GP and founder of Her Medical. Her Medical is a general practice dedicated to women’s health. The team consists of general practitioners and allied health who share a special interest in women’s health. Her Medical 30 Yacht Street, Southport Tel: (07) 5616 8070 reception@hermedical.com.au hermedical.com.au