Many women including known celebrities like Susan Saradon, Whoopi Goldberg and Padma Lakshmi are suffering from this painful and debilitating reproductive disease. Endometriosis is a condition that affects women in their reproductive years and alter activities of their daily living. Still, this disease is often stigmatized and ignored that many do not understand how painful this disease could get.
According to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, endometriosis is characterized by the appearance or development of tissue that usually lines the endometrium or uterus outside of its common location. It can appear in the ovaries, bowel and even the pelvic area. In rare cases, it can go beyond the pelvic area.
An estimated 176 million women suffer from this disease and in the United States, one in ten women are affected. Unfortunately, only a few people are knowledgeable about it and doctors do not usually pin point it as their diagnosis whenever patients complain of menstrual pain.
The Guardian first reported about this disease and the response they got from women who experience endometriosis was overwhelming. In fact, the report says that it can take years before the disease could be specifically identified by doctors leaving women to live in pain for years affecting their performance in school, their work and even sexual relationships. Yahoo Health News estimates that women who have endometriosis could have pain so severe they could pass out and cause them to lose their jobs costing around $80.4 billion a year in the United States. This was based from a study conducted in 2008. These women also experience failed relationships because sex can be excruciating.
"The lack of research and funding for a disease that affects so many women is a major scandal," Lone Hummelshoj, head of the World Endometriosis Research Foundation told The Guardian.
She added, "Endometriosis affects women in the prime of their life. It is not a lifestyle disease. It is not a disease you get later in life. It attacks teens, young women when they should be out being active, working, having children, having sex - 50% of them are struggling with sex because it is too painful."
