Source: northsomersettimes.co.uk<\/p>\n
NHS Digital data shows Weston Area Health NHS Trust admitted 20 women and girls to hospital with a main diagnosis of endometriosis in 2018-19.<\/p>\n
Of these, at least one was an emergency case, with a patient arriving through A&E or rushed to hospital after visiting their GP.<\/p>\n
Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body, such as around the ovaries.<\/p>\n
The tissue sheds in the same way blood does during the menstrual cycle, but it has nowhere to escape, which causes inflammation, pain and a build-up of scar tissue.<\/p>\n
More than a million women aged from puberty to menopause are thought to be affected by endometriosis, with an estimated cost of \u00a38.2billion to the economy.<\/p>\n
According to charity Endometriosis UK, it takes an average time of seven-and-a-half years for women to get a diagnosis.<\/p>\n
Chief executive Emma Cox said more awareness is needed among healthcare practitioners and the general public.<\/p>\n
She said: “Many people don’t even realise the pain they are suffering isn’t normal after years of being told they must have a low-pain threshold and to put up with it.<\/p>\n
“No-one should have to suffer for years, possibly losing their job and chance to have children because of endometriosis, yet, heartbreakingly, it happens all the time.”<\/p>\n
There is no cure for endometriosis and it can be difficult to diagnose, and treatments can include painkillers and contraceptives, and in extreme cases, a hysterectomy.<\/p>\n
The average age of patients admitted to Weston Area Health Trust in 2018-19 was 36.<\/p>\n
The trust says the main symptoms of endometriosis are painful, heavy or irregular periods, pelvic pain and painful bowel movements.<\/p>\n
If women find they have symptoms of endometriosis which are impacting their lives, they are advised to see the advice of their GP.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[697,389,3124],"class_list":["post-4768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-awareness","tag-endometriosis","tag-hospital-admissions"],"yoast_head":"\n