Explaining Endometriosis

Book excerpt: Endometriosis is a painful and debilitating disease that is now believed to affect as many as 1 in 10 women through their menstruating years. Some women may find that endometriosis has little effect on their daily lives, but for others it can be devastating. Simply getting diagnosed can be frustrating for many women, especially teenagers and younger women, as endometriosis can present a bewildering array of symptoms, including: * severe period pain * painful intercourse * pelvic pain * ovulation pain * heavy bleeding * lower back pain * bowel or bladder symptoms In this new edition of their authoritative guide, Ros Wood and Lorraine Henderson offer comprehensive yet easy-to-understand advice that will enable women with endometriosis to understand this complex disease. They provide up-to-date information, clearly laid out to enable women to make informed choices about their treatment and lifestyle. Each chapter deals with a separate issue of concern for women with endometriosis: * What is endometriosis? * Getting diagnosed * What medical, surgical or complementary therapies are available to me? * How can I manage my pain? * How do I build a relationship with my doctor? * Teenagers and endometriosis * Coping strategies: for me, my partner, my family and friends Ros and Lorraine both have extensive knowledge of endometriosis. They co-founded the first endometriosis support group in Australia in 1984 and were co-authors of the first edition of Explaining Endometriosis.