Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a long-term, often painful condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in places it shouldn’t — outside of the womb. This tissue reacts to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, thickening and breaking down each month, but unlike a period, it has no way to exit the body. This causes inflammation, internal bleeding, scar tissue, and adhesions that can affect organs and nerves.

 It’s estimated that around 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth are affected by endometriosis, yet it can take 7–8 years on average to be diagnosed, often due to the normalisation of painful periods and a lack of awareness in healthcare.

Endometriosis can affect many parts of the body, and is classified by location as well as severity. The main types include:

• Pelvic Endometriosis: The most common form, affecting areas like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding pelvic structures.
• Bowel Endometriosis: Tissue grows on or into the bowel, leading to painful bowel movements, bloating, and digestive issues often mistaken for IBS.
• Bladder Endometriosis: Involves endometrial-like tissue on the bladder, causing pain during urination or a frequent need to go.
• Diaphragmatic or Thoracic Endometriosis: Rare, but can affect the diaphragm or lungs, sometimes causing chest pain or shoulder pain that coincides with menstruation.
• Umbilical Endometriosis: Also known as “Villar’s nodule,” this rare form involves endometrial tissue growing in or around the belly button, often causing pain, swelling, or even bleeding during a cycle.
• Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis : A more severe form where the tissue penetrates deeply into pelvic organs or walls, often causing more significant pain and complications.

Symptoms vary from person to person but may include:

• Severe menstrual cramps that disrupt daily life
• Chronic pelvic or lower back pain
• Painful sex (dyspareunia)
• Extreme Fatigue and low energy
• Pain with bowel movements or urination
• Bloating (sometimes called “endo belly”)
• Heavy periods or bleeding between periods
• Fertility struggles
• Deep leg pain

Endometriosis can have a huge impact physically, emotionally, and mentally. It’s not just “bad periods.” It’s a complex, often invisible condition that deserves more awareness, research, and compassionate care. At EndoBloom, we’ve created products like our magnesium bath drops to offer natural, gentle support during flare-ups and hard days. We believe in soothing pain, breaking taboos, and standing with everyone living with this condition, because we’ve been there too.