Showcase Magazine Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 12
HEALTHY
LIFESTYLES
Endometriosis
Sarah’s Experience
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, so I wanted to share something a little
personal. I have Stage 4 Endometriosis, and in April 2023 I had laparoscopic surgery to
treat it. If you’ve never heard of Endometriosis, or you’ve heard the word but aren’t quite
sure what it actually means, you’re not alone.
So what is Endometriosis?
My Surgery Experience
Endometriosis is a long-term condition where tissue similar to
the lining of the womb grows outside of it. It can attach to
organs like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and bowel.
Each month, this tissue behaves like a menstrual cycle, but
unlike a normal period, it has nowhere to go. That’s what
causes inflammation, scarring and, in many cases, severe pain.
There are four stages, and Stage 4 is considered severe. But it’s
important to know that the stage doesn’t always match the
level of pain. We are all different and someone with Stage 1
can experience debilitating symptoms, while someone with
Stage 4 might not even realise they have it.
In April 2023, I had laparoscopic surgery. It’s minimally invasive
and is currently the only way to definitively diagnose and
remove endometriosis tissue.
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age.
That’s millions of people, including young people starting out
in education, training and work.
If you think you might have endometriosis, here are some
things that helped me:
Common Symptoms
Endometriosis looks different for everyone, but here are some
of the most common symptoms:
Extremely painful periods
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Pelvic pain outside of your period
Pain during or after sex
Pain when going to the toilet
Bloating (often called
