Radio presenter Emma Barnett revealed she has had a hysterectomy after battling with endometriosis for decades.
The Today Programme presenter shared the news on Wednesday morning, revealing she had undergone surgery after being taken to hospital for endometriosis.
In June, Ms Barnett, 41, made a documentary, Fighting Endometriosis, looking at the system-wide inflammatory disease which affects about 1.5 million women in the UK, causing symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue and infertility.
Writing on her Substack Trying with Emma Barnett she said: “I didn’t want this procedure because it’s major surgery. It’s frightening and a hard recovery – something I am living now. I didn’t want it because I wanted there to have been medicine or treatment to help my endometriosis. It felt and feels too extreme.”
The painful condition causes cells similar to those in the lining of the womb to grow in other parts of the body. But, despite endometriosis affecting around one in 10 women in the UK, it takes an average of eight years to get a diagnosis.
Here’s everything you need to know about endometriosis:
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis causes tissue similar to that which grows inside of the uterus (the endometrium) grows in other parts of the body.
In most cases, this growth happens on and around organs in the pelvic cavity, and the tissue in endometriosis acts just like it would inside the uterus: it grows, thickens and tries to shed with every menstrual cycle.
But in rare cases endometriosis tissue can grow in the lungs or deep inside the chest cavity, according to The Endometriosis Foundation.
The tissue that grows outside of the uterus, whether thats in the pelvis area or outside, has no way of leaving the body and it can cause a lot of pain and lead to other complications, including infertility.
It can take almost a decade to get a diagnosis, leaving women to struggle with debilitating pain with no treatment for years.
Endometriosis can begin around the same time as the first period which may lead a person to think a high level of pain is “normal” for them, when it could actually be caused by endometriosis or by another medical condition.
Another reason a person might not recognise the symptoms of endometriosis as anything other than those commonly prevalent around menstruation, is that they are often cyclical, meaning they occur at the same time as the period.
What are the symptoms and when do they usually start?
Symptoms of endometriosis generally develop before the age of 30 and can include any of the following: heavy periods, painful menstrual cramps, pain during or after sex, painful bowel movements and urination, pain in the abdomen or lower back that can last throughout the cycle, and difficulty getting pregnant.
Should you experience any of these, it is always important to speak to a doctor.
What causes it?
It is still unclear exactly why endometriosis occurs; but oestrogen production, genes, and the immune system are all thought to play a role in the development of this condition.
There is evidence that endometriosis can be passed down through the genes, meaning a person may be more likely to have it if someone in their biological family does.
Additionally, someone may also be more likely to develop endometriosis if they reproduce later in life, or not at all.
Many people with endometriosis are informally diagnosed and treated based on their symptoms, but in more severe cases, an official diagnosis of endometriosis can be confirmed with a laparoscopic surgery.
Does it cause any complications?
Infertility is a common complication of endometriosis, and can cause distress to many, but it can often be avoided if the condition is treated early.
Other long lasting symptoms such as pain, can affect daily life, work and relationships.
Symptoms of endometriosis usually stop after the menopause – although it’s possible to have symptoms after menopause, according to the NHS.
What surgery is offered for endometriosis?
Surgery is offered when other treatments are not working or if a patient has lots of endometriosis.
Some patients are given surgery to remove areas of endometriosis or fluid-filled sacs (ovarian cysts) caused by the condition, others have their womb removed (hysterectomy) or ovaries (oophorectomy), according to the NHS.
In some instances part of the bladder or bowel is removed if endometriosis is growing in these areas.
Anna Druet is a research scientist at period and ovulation tracking app Clue.
