March is #Endometriosis awareness month and together with my guests, Emma Kirungu and Dr. Mutindi Kakuti, we discuss Emma's journey with Endometriosis, her advice to women and Dr. Kakutis professional opinion on the same.

Here are some facts you need to know;
Endometriosis occurs when this tissue grows outside of the uterus on other organs or structures in the body. Once in the pelvis, the endometrial tissue causes inflammation and scarring as it attaches to pelvic organs (fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowel, and bladder). This can spread onto other organs like kidneys, lungs, heart and even the brain. This scarring and inflammation are what causes the painful symptoms many with endometriosis experience.

Some of the normalcies of #Endowarriors are:
- Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) occasional heavy periods (menorrhagia) or bleeding between periods (menometrorrhagia).
- Severe Pelvic, lower back, and abdominal pain
- Pain during intercourse.
- Pain during bowel movements or urination.
- Infertility.
- Depending on what organ the endometriosis has attacked, the symptoms vary into horrific symptoms daily!

The fact is:
• 1 in 10 women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis.
• 10% of women worldwide have endometriosis - that’s 176 million Women worldwide!
• The prevalence of endometriosis in women with infertility can be as high as 30–50%.
• Endometriosis affects 1.5 million women, a similar number of women affected by diabetes.4
• On average it takes 7.5 years from the onset of symptoms to get a diagnosis.5
• The cause of endometriosis is unknown and there is no definite cure.
Our sisters suffer in pain, go undiagnosed for years, risk their livelihoods and relationships, suffer through inexperienced doctors and succumb to being used as lab rats after finally finding the treatment that the majority cannot afford.
What can you do? Share this post, research and talk about endometriosis, write to your local government and MoH about it, be there for an Endowarrior who needs you, spread the love.
Much love and God bless!