What is endometriosis?

You’ve probably heard it mentioned, but what exactly is endometriosis?

The endometrium is another word for the lining of the womb that gets shed every month as part of the menstrual flow. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the type that grows inside the womb starts growing elsewhere in the body.

The body will try to get rid of the tissue but because it has nowhere to go, it can cause a lot of serious pain. Women have described it like “a demon tearing its way out of my pelvis” and “an elephant wearing stilettos, stomping on my womb”.

The misplaced tissue is often found growing in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, inside the lining of the abdomen and even in the bowel or bladder [1]. However the effects that it can have aren’t just physical. “For me, endometriosis has taken its toll both mentally and emotionally”, one woman told us. This is especially difficult given the current world situation, which has made getting access to treatments more challenging than usual.

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Woman sitting on bed with box of period pads, tampon, book and phone

Your first period: What’s the deal with menstruation?

Chances are, you’ve started to feel your body going through a bit of a transformation. This is just part of a new chapter in your life known as puberty and one of the biggest changes that you will experience is your first period. So let’s take a little look at what menstruation is and what you can expect from it.

How regular is a woman’s period?

Recently started your period? Don’t worry if they aren’t regular yet – this isn’t a sign that there’s a problem.
Woman using periodical app to calculate ovulation while wearing gym leggings and trainers

What is ovulation?

Heard the word ovulation but not sure what it means or when it happens? Don’t worry – it’s just a part of your monthly menstrual cycle, and we’ll go through how it works.

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