Timely diagnosis
Something that really needs to improve with this disease, is timely diagnosis. Something is wrong when it takes 8-10 years before a woman can finally be told what's actually "wrong" and be officially diagnosed. This is exactly what I experienced! I'll talk more about effective treatment in another post. Timely diagnosis and effective treatment are what's needed to restore our best quality of life and preserve fertility.
http://infertility.about.com/b/2014/03/03/endometriosis-awareness-month.htm
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month in the United States, and various weeks in March are designated for endometriosis awareness all around the world.
There are many diseases and causes which have "awareness" days, weeks, or months. In my opinion, endometriosis desperately needs this time period, when people make a special effort to reach out and educate people about this disease.
Why? Because endometriosis is often misdiagnosed or simply over looked. According to Endometriosis.org, a survey done in 2005 found that it takes an average of 8 years for a woman to get an endometriosis diagnosis. Of those women, 65% received a misdiagnosis of another disease, and up to 50% had to see five or more medical professionals before getting accurately diagnosed.
One of the hallmark symptoms of endometriosis, pelvic pain around menstruation or during sexual intercourse, can be attributed to other diseases. Some women have been told the pain is "in their head", while others are under the false impression that very painful menstruation is "normal".
I've heard from one couple dealing with infertility that their doctor believes many of the unexplained infertility cases can be attributed to undiagnosed endometriosis. In fact, among women with infertility, up to 30% are thought to have some form of endometriosis.
http://infertility.about.com/b/2014/03/03/endometriosis-awareness-month.htm
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month in the United States, and various weeks in March are designated for endometriosis awareness all around the world.
There are many diseases and causes which have "awareness" days, weeks, or months. In my opinion, endometriosis desperately needs this time period, when people make a special effort to reach out and educate people about this disease.
Why? Because endometriosis is often misdiagnosed or simply over looked. According to Endometriosis.org, a survey done in 2005 found that it takes an average of 8 years for a woman to get an endometriosis diagnosis. Of those women, 65% received a misdiagnosis of another disease, and up to 50% had to see five or more medical professionals before getting accurately diagnosed.
One of the hallmark symptoms of endometriosis, pelvic pain around menstruation or during sexual intercourse, can be attributed to other diseases. Some women have been told the pain is "in their head", while others are under the false impression that very painful menstruation is "normal".
I've heard from one couple dealing with infertility that their doctor believes many of the unexplained infertility cases can be attributed to undiagnosed endometriosis. In fact, among women with infertility, up to 30% are thought to have some form of endometriosis.
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