for The month of march is Endometriosis Awareness Month. The world is to draw attention to the relatively unknown, yet common disease areas. 200 million women around the world suffer it, and in the united kingdom, the disease is common. The disease is in the taboesfeer, ” says physician and researcher Esther van Barneveld, and that is if they want to stop it. Six questions about endometriosis.
“Endometriosis is a chronic disease. Tissue on the lining of your womb, it is in areas outside the uterus (womb). It is usually found in the peritoneum or the organs in the abdomen. It is also found in the vagina, a scar from an emergency c-section. It is a tissue that grows, it creates chronic inflammation, and that gives you different problems.”
“this can range from no symptoms to, in extreme abdominal pain, particularly during menstruation. If the endometriosis on the bowel wall, it may also have problems to give. Or, in the bladder, for example, blaasklachten. Some women have pain during intercourse. Women with endometriosis may be less fertile. This can be the result of growths, and adhesions of the fallopian tubes, and ovaries.”
“Worldwide, approximately one in ten women suffers from endometriosis. In the Netherlands, it is estimated that around 400,000 are women. Endometriosis is as common as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. However, you can hear most of the time, something about it. As the impact is huge and can be. The quality of life for women with endometriosis is often significantly lower than in women who don’t have it.”
“Women have to think for yourself is the pain in the menstrual period should. Also, general practitioners and specialists to prescribe for the symptoms are often at a ‘normal’ menstrual pain. In some cases women are frightened, as aansteller to be seen, and they dare not complain to get out. The diagnosis is, on average, only every eight years. That is why it is important to keep the veil on for endometriosis, to stop it.”
“to be The most effective treatment for endometriosis is hormone therapy, that is, the menstrual period is suppressed, such as the oral contraceptive pill, or have a hormoonspiraaltje. It does, however, mean that women have during this treatment can not become pregnant. In addition, the hormonal treatments that often have side-effects.
“Women who do not have the hormones capable of, or willing to use, and are most dependent on pain killers. An exploratory surgery in which endometriosis is removed, is sometimes a possibility, but the symptoms are often not clear. Up to 75% of the patients after surgery symptoms to keep. How can this be, it is still not clear. There is a research need.”
“all Kinds of organizations, including the national Endometriosis Foundation, which is committed to the endometriosis is known to do. There is also research being done; for example, we are in the Centre of excellence for Endometriosis in Maastricht, responsible for the development of a patiëntenapp. That can help you with the research, and, at a later stage in the process of monitoring the disease and evaluating the treatment. The app measures the action in real time, taking into account the factors that may have an impact on pain, such as diet, sleep, and stress.”
“with The knowledge we can apply it in the treatment. This leads to faster and improve the quality of care that the person is focused, and thus more. We can also test whether a new treatment is effective, or yoga or any other therapy, for example, can help.”
now, Of Barneveld, is a physician-researcher at the Centre for Endometriosis of the Maastricht university medical centre (UMC+) and GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology.
