Endo in Your Briefs & In Brief
Endometriosis is a chronic disease that affects female's reproductive and immune system.
Bits of endometrial tissue, like that normally produced only in the lining of the uterus, grow outside the womb, evolving into "cysts."
The customary belief is that menstrual debris is not always entirely eliminated during the period, but stays active and travels. Such cells may implant on the ovaries or fallopian tubes, and then may migrate to other organs: the bladder, intestines, kidneys, even the lungs.
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| Endometriosis: a very unfun feeling |
This "external" endometrial tissue mimics what is in the uterus, responding to monthly hormonal changes. Thus, it becomes engorged with blood.
Walking wounded
The upshot of this are a host of things, from inflammation to swelling, scarring of tissue to more and more bleeding. Progressing from that are things like impeded organ function and the manifestation of often debilitating pain.
The pain could be physical: not just cramps, but headaches, backaches, agonising sex. The pain could be emotional, spurred by resultant infertility, inability to work or function normally, even the guilt that may be felt at not being able to "pull your weight" in life with loved ones.
It is like living with a prolonged, regularly recurring wound.
At a glance, this is endometriosis. Fight it! Getting in the know is your best defence.
In beauty may you walk
Next Post: Who's at Risk
TOP photo by Magda Ehlers from Pexels
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