menstruation Archives - MyMedicPlus

What We Know About Cannabis And Endometriosis

mymedicplus — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 06:37:48 +0000

Source: thefreshtoast.com

Like most things pertaining to a woman’s menstrual cycle, endometriosis is a highly misunderstood condition. Affecting an estimated 200 million women worldwide and 1 out of 10 women in the U.S., this condition is known for being highly uncomfortable, painful, and difficult to treat and diagnose.

While its origins are unknown and there’s no way of curing it, some hope that with scientific support marijuana could become a reliable source of pain relief.

Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrium — the tissue that coats the inside of the uterus — makes its way outside of the womb. This tissue can latch on to any of the female reproductive organs and even to the intestines, appendix and bowels. Since this tissue is affected by hormones and women’s menstrual cycles, it often causes inflammation and tremendous amounts of pain.

While there’s basically no scientific research out there that looks into the connection between marijuana and period pain, there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence that finds a correlation, with many well regarded companies releasing bath salts, suppositories, creams and more with the purpose of treating menstrual cramps.

Doctors aren’t likely to list medical marijuana products for people suffering from endometriosis, but that doesn’t stop women from trying out new things, especially when the condition that affects them is so debilitating.

According to Foria, a well regarded cannabis company with a focus on sexual health, certain cannabinoids could help manage some of the symptoms of endometriosis. There have been connections found between the use of cannabinoids and the prevention of proliferation of cells, the prevention of cell migration and the desensitization of nerves that transmit pain.

“Whether you’re already using cannabinoids for your endometriosis, or you’re considering an experiment with them, we highly recommend reading on to learn about the effects of THC & CBD on endometriosis,” explains the site. “One reason scientists are enthusiastic about these compounds is the recent discovery that the body’s natural endocannabinoid system is integral to the healthy functioning of the female reproductive tract.”

The current options for the treatment of endometriosis are only there for managing the condition, with there being no cure. They include pain medication and surgery, with the former often providing no effective relief and the latter acting as a temporary patch at best and as a life altering body change at worst.

The more you dive into endometriosis, the more you realize that there’s a big gap of knowledge for such a serious condition. Research needs to be conducted and this condition needs to be understood in order to address it properly. In the meantime, at least there’s cannabis.

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Endometriosis in sub-Saharan Africa

mymedicplus — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 11:17:20 +0000

Source: borgenmagazine.com

SEATTLE, Washington — Endometriosis is a debilitating, painful gynecological disease that affects women all over the world. Although this disease is thoroughly researched and documented in well developed, high-income countries, endometriosis is a forgotten and foreign disease in the developing world. There is a lack of knowledge and data concerning the disease, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This absence of information is consequently leaving thousands of women experiencing the pain of endometriosis hopeless and lost. Endometriosis in sub-Saharan Africa has always been a problem, but only in recent years is it finally being acknowledged.

Endometriosis in Women

Endometriosis occurs when “tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other places” throughout a woman’s body. This presents intense debilitating symptoms. Pelvic pain is the most common symptom, affecting 75 percent of women with endometriosis. Almost half of women will experience infertility. Other symptoms include problematic menstruation cycles, digestive issues and fatigue.

These symptoms can make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for women to navigate everyday life. For women in low-income, impoverished countries, these symptoms make an already strenuous life that much more exhausting. Endometriosis significantly impacts women not only physically but also emotionally. This impact often leads to a decreased quality of life. For women that are already struggling to survive in poverty-stricken areas, a decreased quality of life is not something they can afford.

A Lack of Information

In the past, it was accepted that endometriosis simply did not affect women in low-income countries as much as it did in high-income countries. Many health professionals believed this was merely due to societal and cultural differences such as larger family sizes, shorter times between pregnancies and superstitious beliefs and attitudes surrounding women’s pain and menstruation.

As more studies are emerging, however, research is showing the lower prevalence of endometriosis in impoverished countries is due to the absence of properly trained health professionals and medical facilities. Without proper knowledge of endometriosis it impossible for women to be properly diagnosed. Without a diagnosis, these women will not know to seek and attain the treatment they need. Thus, there is an immediate and dire need to further research endometriosis in sub-Saharan Africa in order to give these women a fighting chance.

What Research Has Found

Though there is limited research on endometriosis in sub-Saharan Africa, the studies that have been performed confirm the growing suspicions that endometriosis is just as present in impoverished areas as it is in high-income countries. A 2015 study on the presence of endometriosis in Nigerian women found that more than 48 percent of the 239 women analyzed had damage and lesions from endometriosis.

Another study in Ghana reported that health professionals identified 12 case reports of Thoraxic endometriosis Syndrome between 2004 and 2012. This is a phenomenon where endometriosis infects and damages the lungs. Furthermore, infertility after a first-born child affects more than 30 percent of women in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies have shown that up to 50 percent of the cases of women experiencing infertility are due to endometriosis.

Banding Together

Despite the lack of information and research surrounding endometriosis, many women in Africa know of its harsh reality. These women are gathering together from various parts of the world, sharing stories and support through social media and different organizations. Organizations like the World Endometriosis Organisations (WEO) provide websites and hotlines where women can turn for support and information. They exist in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.

One such organization, Endo Charity, is based out of Ghana and was created in 2019. Their goal is to raise awareness of endometriosis and improve care for women afflicted with the disease. This organization hosts events advocating for endometriosis awareness. It also provides women with the chance and opportunity to reach out and receive help when everywhere else they turn is lacking help and information. In Nigeria, the EndoSurvivors International Foundation is also working to spread awareness to the public and medical professionals.

Women are clearly suffering from endometriosis in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies are providing evidence of the severe presence of endometriosis throughout the continent. Endometriosis exists in low-income countries, and this research is the first step in the journey of improving the lives of women in sub-Saharan Africa. Thankfully, these organizations are spreading awareness of the chronic condition. Supporting organizations that educate and support women as well as educate health professionals about the existence of this disease is the first step to ending the suffering of these African women.

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Need more conversations, period

mymedicplus — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 13:21:03 +0000

Source: newindianexpress.com

BENGALURU: She may not be a doctor with solutions to why women suffer from period cramps, PCOD or endometriosis, but artist A P Payal did the next best thing known to her to help spread the word about these issues. The result: A tarot deck, all centred around themes related to menstruation and women’s health. The artwork will be on display at this year’s edition of Gender Bender arts festival in the city from August 21 to 24.

While a standard tarot deck has 78 cards, Payal’s The Fabulous Hysteric has only 29, to draw on the number that makes up the average menstrual cycle. Each card focuses on a different aspect of the theme, including hygiene, menopause, safe sex, cervical cancer and infertility. For example, the card on endometriosis (a painful condition wherein the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside the uterus) has a woman with the following words tattooed on her abdomen: Mard ko dard nahi hota. “This is a famous phrase so I used it to say that while men don’t experience pain, women with endometriosis experience lots of it. These references to pop-culture and cinema are ones that an Indian audience would be familiar with,” explains the Delhi-based artist who will be visiting Bengaluru for the festival.

Another card has a woman with her back to the viewer, with the uterus and ovaries donning the horns and tail of the devil, and wings and halo of an angel. “Someone on their period tends to crave unhealthy food, are fatigued and don’t want to go out much. This card showcases the range of emotions someone on their period experiences,” explains Payal.

Themes of body positivity, feminism, nature and mental health are recurrent, though unconscious, in Payal’s artwork, with her also having worked on a web comic (called Her-sutism) on PCOD (polycystic ovary syndrome) in 2017. Part fantasy and part informative, the comic looked at the experiences of women who suffer from the condition, including the artist herself. “One entire section of the work was dedicated to reimagining Disney princesses as people who have PCOD,” says Payal. For instance, Snow White was based on a student with PCOD who told her that her period came every 3-4 months, with bleeding lasting for 15-20 days. People would often compliment her for her beauty and fairness, not realising that her haemoglobin levels were actually low as a result of anaemia. “In my comic, Snow White made people realise that this was the reason she was the fairest. She then goes on to ask someone to give her a magic apple to regularise her period.”

The most surprising part of her research, which took over 2-3 weeks, showed Payal that even today, many health resources claim to not know the exact cause for why endometriosis or PCOD occurs. “We only talk about how we don’t like our period and that we are in pain. But we don’t talk about what it means to have a menstrual disorder. I hope my work will spark a much-needed public conversation at least,” says Payal.
A joint project of the Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan and Sandbox Collective, Gender Bender focuses on showcasing artworks on gender and will take place at the Bangalore International Centre from August 21 to 24.

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