Why Getting an Endometriosis Diagnosis Is Painfully Slow

Painful periods are a sign of endometriosis

For centuries, women and girls experiencing heavy bleeding and cramping, known as dysmenorrhea, during their periods have been gaslighted by doctors and the medical community who dismissed their pain as normal or were told that the pain was all in their head. We now know that these are the first and most common symptoms of endometriosis, an incurable pelvic condition and chronic illness where the endometrium, tissue similar to the lining of a uterus, grows in the pelvic cavity and other parts of the body and attaches itself to female reproductive organs, the bowel, intestines and appendix. It responds to a woman’s menstrual cycle, resulting in inflammation.

Other symptoms experienced by the 10%-15% of people of reproductive age who have endometriosis include chronic pain; reduced fertility; organ disfunction; abnormal periods; painful sex; and gastrointestinal issues, such as extreme bloating, painful urination and bowel movements, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation.

In patients ages 18-45 years, the average delay in receiving a definitive diagnosis from a medical professional is 6.7 years. Endometriosis symptoms can be attributed to other gynecologic and gastrointestinal diseases and are often overlooked or mistreated. The absence of a diagnostic test that would definitively confirm endometriosis points to a lack of research and funding for a condition that, according to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, affects approximately 200 million women globally. Normalizing symptoms and pervasive myths that pregnancy cures endometriosis prevent women from advocating for themselves and receiving proper care.

Race and socioeconomic factors can further delay a diagnosis

Dr. Jessica Shepherd is an OB-GYN at the University of Illinois at Chicago and serves as the director of minimally invasive gynecology. She is also a women's health expert and member of HealthyWomen’s Women’s Health Advisory Council. Shepherd believes that Black women are less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis than other women.

“In addition to being overlooked for pelvic pain for endometriosis, race can also influence Black women's ability to access healthcare, being able to discuss pain profiles adequately and obtaining appropriate management,” Shepherd said.

The economic impact of endometriosis and lack of funding and research

Being left in the dark for years not only means women’s pain goes unaddressed, but their daily lives and mental wellness also suffers. According to a multisite study by the World Endometriosis Research Foundation Global Study of Women's Health, women with endometriosis lost, on average, 10.8 hours of work weekly. In a 2018 study, many respondents reported that their endometriosis significantly interfered with their family life (45.7%), social life (40.1%), education/career (42.9%) and sexual function (68.1%). They also reported that it led to other conditions, including fatigue (93.6%), gastrointestinal issues (91.8%) and difficulty sleeping (87.4%). Women with the disease are also at risk for anxiety, depressive symptoms and other psychiatric disorders.

While endometriosis has become more visible, thanks in part to celebrities like Lena Dunham, Halsey and Julianne Hough speaking out about their own experiences with the disease, we still have a long way to go. Younger generations are using social media platforms to access information and find community. The Netflix documentary short Period, End of Sentence took home a 2018 Oscar, and advocacy groups are growing in numbers. All underscore the importance of finding a good doctor that is not only informed about endometriosis but who will be an ally. Yet those with limited access to healthcare are at a greater disadvantage.

“There needs to be an improvement in communication in the medical field with endometriosis. The stigma of pelvic pain needs to be taken away,” said Shepherd.

I wish doctors had taken my concerns more seriously and hadn’t left it up to me to navigate this life-altering disease alone. Endometriosis has affected every facet of my life, and while I can’t turn back the clock, I now know not to dismiss or minimize my pain. If something doesn’t feel right, there’s a reason for that. It shouldn’t take years or decades to receive a diagnosis; the medical community needs to advocate for endometriosis as much as patients do.