Among my circle of friends, I know at least three who shared that they have been diagnosed with endometriosis, and how it affects their health, and life, in general. There is one thing they all share in common aside from mentioned – that they have been diagnosed quite late, in their late 20s, and they are now in their late 30s.
There were many factors, however, it is quite common among women to embrace period pain as normal, or ‘simply part of being a woman.’ Women should take period pains seriously as this could be an indication of a health issue.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 10 percent or 190 million women and girls of reproductive age globally are affected by severe pain associated with endometriosis, a painful gynecological disease in which the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, and this burden affects more women in Asia.
According to the WHO, endometriosis is a chronic disease associated with life-impacting pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements, and/or urination. Other symptoms include fatigue, nausea, and anxiety. Given these, misconceptions about endometriosis, such as extreme period pain, are something women still view as part of the norm– resulting in prolonged pain and delayed treatment.
Bayer Philippines, in collaboration with its partners from the Society of Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders (SEUD) and the Philippine Society for Reproductive Medicine (PRSM), advocates for more conversations of care and action to eliminate pain associated with endometriosis by supporting the Asian Congress on Endometriosis (ACE) in the Philippines this year.
According to Dr. Angela Aguilar, OB-GYNE and ACE 2023 Congress President, these misconceptions create more barriers to why women do not consult their doctors. “There is an information gap associated with endometriosis and women continue to suffer in silence,” she said. “This affects their daily activities, their productivity suffers at work and school– diminishing their quality of life.”
Importance of early diagnosis
“Endometriosis sometimes takes several years to be diagnosed, but with the Asia Consensus guidelines, it allows us to help tackle endometriosis by improving diagnosis and treatment standards of the condition in Asia, enabling them to create the best outcomes for their patients,” said Dr. Catherine Donovan, Head of Medical Affairs Asia-Pacific, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Asia-Pacific.
The consensus guideline “Clinical Diagnosis and Early Medical Management for Endometriosis: Consensus for Asia” details the recommended practices for caring for women with endometriosis. It emphasizes the role of non-invasive procedures in early diagnosis and treatment to allow for patient-centered care.
In an endometriosis masterclass held at the Marriott Manila Hotel, Bayer emphasized the importance of creating safe spaces for conversations on endometriosis to provide a multidimensional approach to patient care.
Seek medical help
Women should realize that pelvic pain accompanying periods is not normal. They should seek help to evaluate the cause of this pain. According to Dr. Aguilar, patients may undergo pelvic examination and imaging as appropriate. Pelvic pain may be due to endometriosis and experts in the field can discern if this is present.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition, but there are ways of managing the pain and preserving the woman’s fertility as long as it is discovered early and handled competently.
Working with multi-sectoral partners and joining the ACE 2023 in the Philippines is part of Bayer’s core commitment to finding innovative solutions for women’s healthcare. With its recently launched Bayer For Her: Conversations of Care campaign, Bayer aims to raise awareness of women’s health by normalizing discussions on what is considered taboo topics in the country such as menstrual issues and endometriosis.
To help more women make informed choices about their own bodies and seek expert advice on reproductive health, Bayer For Her has an ongoing series of free pop-up consultation clinics at selected Mercury Drug, Southstar Drug, Rose Pharmacy, and Watsons until October 2023.
For more information about the free consultation clinics or signs and symptoms of endometriosis, visit Bayer Philippines’ Ask Mara Facebook page.
You may reach the author at joba.botana@gmail.com.
