Experiencing severe cramps? The gynecological disease women should be tested for

One in ten women have endometriosis, a relatively unknown gynaecological disease.

Unfortunately, this illness is often misdiagnosed because its symptoms are similar to other illnesses. Dr Wanjiru Ndegwa, who runs the Footsteps to Fertility clinic, says although the greatest pointer is painful cramps, this is not the only indicator.

“If the cramps are particularly severe and are accompanied by nausea, heavy bleeding, pain during and after sex, difficulty conceiving or pain when passing stool, a lady should get checked by a gynaecologist immediately,” she says.

Diagnosis is done through a laparoscopy which Ndegwa explains is a surgical procedure that allows a surgeon to look at the fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus to trace the presence of and extent of the disease.

There is still no known cure for endometriosis and Ndegwa recommends taking pain killers and embracing a diet that will reduce chances of inflammation.

“Even when a woman gets a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) done, it does not always resolve the problem. This is because these tissues move to other parts of the body and attach themselves to other organs,” she says.

She says a diet that excludes dairy and grain products as well as processed foods, while embracing vegetables, fruits and fish can make a world of a difference for sufferers.

But, what exactly causes endometriosis? Dr Mutinda Kyama, who has done extensive research into this illness, says it occurs when endometrial cells inside the uterus, begin to grow outside.

These endometrial tissue respond to changes in levels of estrogen in the body and behave just like those in the uterus.

“They also grow and bleed but because, unlike the uterus, there is no exit for this blood, these tissues become inflamed,” Dr Ndegwa said.

She says once this happens, menstrual pain becomes magnified because it is coming from multiple sources - the uterus and wherever else the cells have implanted themselves.

According to Dr Mutinda Kyama, various theories try to explain the cause of this illness.

“There is the retrograde menstruation theory where blood, flows back through the tubes and grows in the pelvic cavity.

In some women, the disease can be attributed to failure of the immune system to clear the menstrual debris in the pelvic cavity, allowing the endometrial cells to implant and develop into endometriosis,” he says.