Endometriosis is a chronic disease in which tissue similar to the uterine lining — the endometrium — grows outside the uterus. This tissue reacts to the menstrual cycle, bleeds, and causes inflammation, adhesions and pain.
Symptoms to know
Manifestations vary from one woman to another, but certain signs should raise a flag:
- Extremely painful periods preventing daily activities
- Chronic pelvic pain, even outside periods
- Pain during intercourse
- Intense, unexplained fatigue
- Difficulty conceiving
Why is diagnosis so long?
On average, it takes 7 years for a woman to be diagnosed. Why: normalization of menstrual pain, lack of clinician training, symptoms that overlap with other conditions.
"You cannot heal what you do not name."
And in Africa?
Data is cruelly lacking — and this is precisely the void Sister Endo Africa seeks to fill. Cultural taboos, limited access to medical imaging and the lack of specialists deepen diagnostic wandering.
What to do if I recognize myself?
First step: talk about it. To a doctor, to a sister, to the association. Second: keep a journal of your symptoms. Third: ask for a specialized pelvic ultrasound or an MRI.