March is Endometriosis Awareness Month!

March isn't only Women's Month! According to Endometriosis.org, Endometriosis Awareness Week was last week, 8 - 14 March. Unfortunately, I only saw it today. Nevertheless, it's not too late to educate other people about this condition that quite a number of Filipinas suffer from.

In fact, in my own circle of friends alone, I found out early this year that around five of my friends have (or have had) endometrial cysts (also known as chocolate cysts). Aside from this, a dear cousin of mine has been diagnosed with adenomiosis. (More on this later.)

While I do know that compared to the number of women who have been diagnosed with cervical or breast cancer, I also believe that women who are diagnosed with reproductive conditions such as endometriosis, adenomiosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, myomas, and others, must also be given attention and awareness about these conditions must be spread to the general public.

Of these friends of mine who have been diagnosed with endometriosis, three of them only discovered their condition upon chance. They visited their ob-gynes "just to see how everything was down there." I only discovered I had endometriosis when I was rushed to the emergency room for extreme abdominal cramps (dysmenorrhea) that I could not walk.

I think that in the Philippines, women do not take their reproductive health as a priority. I still have friends in their late 20's and early 30's who have never been to an ob-gyne. This is something that needs to change; women must take charge of their health and visiting your ob-gyne for a general check up is a good start.

Now going back to Endometriosis Awareness Month, I'd like to propose one thing that women can do for their reproductive health: Visit your ob-gyne. If you've had your check up this 2010, good for you! If not, do schedule a visit soon.

Whether or not you have endometriosis, it's good practice to get monitor how everything is working down there. :) A pap smear is recommended for women who are sexually active or are in their mid-twenties. Ask about that itch down there, if you have one. Or simply visit your ob-gyne and ask her questions you'd been meaning to ask her such as "Are pantiliners bad if worn everyday?" "Is it okay to use feminine washes?" "Can I get any infection from a brazilian wax?"

Happy Women's Month and Happy Endometriosis Awareness Month everyone! :)