By LILIAN U. OKORO

Not all menstrual pains and cramps are normal; some may be linked to endometriosis, says Mrs. Sophy Nwakuba, the President of EndoSurvivos International Foundation.

Nwakuba, a gynaecologist and Managing Partner at the StrongTower Specialist Hospital and Fertility Centre, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

Endometriosis is an often painful condition in which a tissue similar to the one that lines the inside of the uterus – endometrium – grows outside the uterus.

The disorder can cause severe pelvic pains during menstruation.

She stated that most women and young girls who experience painful menstruation usually generalized it to be a normal thing, saying that not all menstrual pains/cramps should be considered normal.

She further said that most menstrual pains were caused by endometriosis condition, but that many people do not know this because they assume it to be normal for a woman to undergo pains when seeing her menses.

She explained that the condition mostly affects women that are within the reproductive age, causing about 40 per cent of infertility among women.

According to her, the condition has scattered many marriages as it has rendered some women barren.

Nwakuba, therefore, advised young girls and women who experience severe menstrual pains to seek medical attention as that might be a sign of endometriosis condition.

She advised that parents, caregivers and teachers should desist from generalizing all menstrual pains to be normal, but rather encourage their wards/daughters to seek medical interventions.

According to her, mild discomfort with periods may be normal, but pain that stops a woman from working or going to school or other daily activities is not normal and should be evaluated by a gynecologist.

“I was a victim of endometriosis. I started experiencing painful menstruation from the very day my menstruation began at the age of 13.

“At a time, my parents told me that I will get over it with time or when I get married.

“Even after marriage, the menstrual pains persisted; a doctor told me that if I get pregnant, the pains owuld go. But then, how do I get pregnant since endometriosis causes infertility.

“So, it becomes a big challenge because, then, I did not know much about endometriosis.

“That’s why we are clamouring for awareness because people need to be educated so that women that are experiencing the peculiar symptoms of endometriosis will stop dying in silence and seek proper medical care.

“Endometriosis is the leading cause of depression among women because lots of people with the condition are dying in silence and depression due to ignorance/lack of information,” she said.

A Radiographer, Dr. Bode Ademola, said that there are cost-effective ways through which endometriosis could be diagnosed and treated.

Ademola identified diagnosis as a major challenge in the management of endometriosis.

He said that ultrasound and imaging modalities could help in the diagnosis endometriosis compared to the Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which might be more expensive.

According to him, the transvaginal ultrasound scan that cost about N1,500 can be used to detect endometriosis, as not everybody can afford the MRI scan of N70,000 or above.

“We are looking for cost-effective methods of diagnosing endometriosis for the third world countries, whose their earning power may not be high, and they should not die or suffer because they do not have money.

“Not everybody can afford the MRI or the surgical interventions. So, if we can downplay on the ultrasound modalities, it will go a long way to help those with endometriosis condition.

“If a woman is having painful menstruation, she shouldn’t just keep quiet – let her take the first line of action – go for the transvaginal ultrasound and detect the condition, then take it from there,” he said.

The radiographer emphasized that early detection was key in the management of endometriosis. (NAN)