March 18, 2018

Many women suffer in silence month in and month out for what they think are just painful periods. But in some cases those painful periods are actually a medical condition called en- dometriosis. It can be debilitating and is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissues that normally line the uterus grow in other areas of the body, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, bladder, intestines or colon. It is estimated that one in every 10 women in the world during reproductive years, or roughly 176 million, suffer from endometriosis, which affects them regardless of their ethnic or social background.^1,2

Endometriosis Signs

It’s important to understand the possible signs and symptoms of endometriosis so that you can start a conversation with your healthcare provider. If you have endometriosis you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:^3-6

• Pain before, during and after menstruation
• Pain during ovulation
• Pain in the bowel during menstruation
• Pain when passing urine
• Deep pain during or after sex
• Pain in the lower back
• Diarrhea or constipation during or around menstruation
• Abdominal bloating during or around menstruation
• Feeling faint, sick or nauseous during or around menstruation
• Heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding
• Fatigue
• Difficulty in day-to-day activities due to pain or exhaustion

Talk to Your Healthcare Provider

These same symptoms can be indicators of other conditions, so it’s advised to be open with your healthcare provider about the symptoms you may be experiencing. Because many of the symptoms associated with endometriosis may be experienced periodically or as part of oth- er common gastrointestinal issues, women often are not diagnosed with the condition until they have difficulty becoming pregnant.

It is estimated that endometriosis affects about 50 percent of women with infertility.⁷ Your healthcare provider can determine if your symptoms are related to endometriosis and help you navigate the pregnancy-planning process.

If you are trying to conceive, it is still important to take a daily prenatal vitamin, even before you become pregnant. The Prenate^® Vitamin Family offers a line of prenatal vitamins with folic acid. Each contains 1 mg folate as a blend of bioavailable L-methylfolate and traditional folic acid. This nutrient is critical in early pregnancy to a baby’s long-term and healthy development. Talk to your doctor to see which Prenate^® vitamin is right for you.