Endometriosis Awareness Month: What is the condition and how is talkhealth helping?

Despite affecting 190 million women and girls across the world, endometriosis symptoms and treatments are hard to pin down. That’s why this Endometriosis Awareness Month we want to shed light on the condition and spotlight ways that we are helping the patient community. 

Last year, the World Health Organisation published a report all about endometriosis. As well as laying out the key causes, symptoms and treatment for the condition, it also highlighted the limitations of care available to people with it. On top of a delay in diagnosis, the lack of resources within primary care to screen for the condition and a decreased awareness of the debilitating effects of endometriosis were key issues with care for the condition these days. 

At talkhealth, we are dedicated to raising awareness of chronic conditions like endometriosis and we pride ourselves in educating our members via partnerships with brands like you. Before we explore ways that you can work with us to build awareness of endometriosis, here is a rundown of what the condition is:

What is endometriosis?

According to the NHS, endometriosis is a condition where tissue that is similar to the lining of your womb grows in other parts of your body. 

People with the condition can experience the growth of endometrium in areas including the ovaries and the fallopian tubes. Others can experience endometriosis of the bladder and bowel. Because tissue is growing where it isn’t meant to be, the condition causes an inflammatory response that leads to the growth of scar tissue. 

As a result, women and girls can experience pain in their tummy or back, very bad pain on their period and issues pooing and weeing. In the worst cases, women can become infertile. 

What are the treatments for endometriosis?

Everyone’s experience of endometriosis is different. Whilst some women experience very severe pain, others can find it hard to carry out daily tasks. In less severe cases, the condition can be managed with painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen. 

If someone is living with severe symptoms, they will be prescribed contraception which can help dramatically. In the worst case, people might be sent for surgery to remove some of the tissue (which can reduce the risk of infertility), or they might need a hysterectomy. 

Given that the condition has the power to completely change your life, and that it is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK, it still takes around 8 years to get a diagnosis. 

Although we have already done some great work in the endometriosis arena, here are ways that you can help:

Partner with us on a clinic 

Since 2017, we have been running an annual online clinic all about gynaecology which we love to partner with charities on. From Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust to Wellbeing of Women, the clinics are very popular and always receive loads of questions. 

If you are as dedicated as us to raising awareness and helping people with the condition, we would love to work with you on an endometriosis-specific clinic. We can help you to find the perfect experts to answer all of the questions, or you can put forward your favourite. 

View our most recent gynaecology clinic here. 

Host a webinar 

talkhealth is quickly becoming known for its weekly webinars. Although we have covered loads of topics within women’s health (think menopause, sexual health and hormones), we are yet to interview an endometriosis expert. 

If you are working with healthcare professionals that you think would be perfect for a webinar, get in touch. We would absolutely love to hear from you. Webinars are promoted via weekly and monthly newsletters as well as social media and an online article. This means there is loads of opportunity for brand amplification too! 

Write a series of articles 

We love working with charities and healthcare brands on articles. Previously, we have worked with clients to write tip-based articles and patient stories that we know our members engage with well. Are you experts in the endometriosis world and willing to pitch to us? Then please do! We have all the in-house resources you need to execute an evidence-based article that will educate and drive our readers to your organisation.