March is National Endometriosis Awareness Month and doctors at Atrium Health Navient want women to know that treatment is available for painful periods.

Endometriosis is a problem affecting a woman’s uterus. The uterus is lined with tissue (endometrium), and endometriosis occurs when the kind of tissue that normally lines the uterus grows somewhere else. It can grow on the ovaries, behind the uterus, on the bowels or on the bladder. These cells swell and bleed under hormonal influence, causing scarring and pain.

It is estimated that 1 in 10 women have endometriosis. While the cause of endometriosis is unknown, risk factors include having a mother, sister or daughter with endometriosis; starting your period before age 11; monthly cycles that are less than 27 days; and menstrual cycles that are heavy and last more than seven days.

Symptoms of endometriosis may sound familiar to many women. They include pelvic pain, infertility, painful menstrual cramps, pain during or after sex, spotting or bleeding between periods and pain with bowel movement or urination, especially during your period.

“There is good data that most women see anywhere from three to five physicians before a diagnosis is made. It has to do with the fact that symptoms can be similar to other issues that they face,” said Dr. R. Edward Betcher, OB-GYN department chair for Atrium Health Navicent and a specialist in minimally invasive gynecological surgery. “There’s a hereditary component and so a lot of women think that what they experience is normal and are reluctant to discuss it. Studies say a third of women find it difficult to discuss it with a provider.”

Physicians urge women to speak to their provider if they are experiencing these symptoms.

“You are not alone. Just because you may know other women with these symptoms, it doesn’t mean that it’s normal. Not too many folks are thrilled about having a period, but if it’s difficult to manage, that’s not something women have to put up with,” Betcher said. “If it’s an impact to their lives, they need to talk with their provider.”

With a complete exam and imaging of the affected area, a gynecologist can help develop a treatment plan. While there is no cure for endometriosis, successful treatment options include pain relievers and hormone therapy. If a patient’s condition is not responding well to treatment, laparoscopy or surgery may be performed.

“The important thing to know is that we believe you. If you tell us you’re having these issues, we will evaluate you and treat the issues,” Betcher said. “We take the approach that this is a long-term condition that needs to be managed throughout a woman’s life, not just something we treat once and that’s it. Atrium Health Navicent is invested in women’s health, and there’s a lot of ways to improve quality of life for women with endometriosis.”

Atrium Health Navicent Women’s Care OBGYN is now seeing patient in Macon and Forsyth. To schedule an appointment, call 478-633-1821. To find a doctor, visit www.NavicentHealth.org and click “Find A Doctor.”