Beya is one of 200 million women worldwide who have been diagnosed with endometriosis. As someone who has also battled PCOS, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and a blocked right fallopian tube, Beya worried she may never conceive. However, after trying for 21 years, she became pregnant using OvuSense and ultimately gave birth to a happy, healthy baby. Now her baby is three, and although she counts her blessings, Beya continues to struggle with her endometriosis on a regular basis. 

For those who aren’t familiar, endometriosis is a condition where the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. It can be extremely painful and affects an estimated 1 in 10 women worldwide. During menstruation, the endometrial lining is shed from the uterus, but the lining that is attached outside the uterus has no way of leaving the body. While there is no known cause for endometriosis, some believe there is a genetic link to this condition. 

In this blog, Beya shares what daily life living with endometriosis can sometimes look like in her own words. 

A Painful & Isolating Experience

“Endometriosis has caused most of my adult life to be extremely difficult, both in terms of managing pain, as well as socially. Since I also have adenomyosis (a condition that causes endometrial tissue in the lining of the uterus to grow into the muscular wall of the uterus) and menorrhagia (heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding), I feel like death when I’m on my period. I’ve been dealing with chronic anemia since I was postpartum, as a result of a hemorrhage after giving birth. Unfortunately, I never seemed to get over that period of anemia associated with that and it’s been over three years! Every month, my period is just so hard on my body. 

Socially, my endometriosis causes me to cancel plans and withdraw from events. I couldn’t run a 5K race that I wanted to for months because I have been in so much pain lately that I couldn’t train for it. I also have to subject myself to taking pain medication and limiting activity (not easy with a 3-year-old!), among other things. It’s a horrible condition to live with and more than once I have considered a full hysterectomy just to TRY and live without the pain associated with all of my reproductive issues.”

Know That You Are Not Alone

If you are dealing with endometriosis, know that you are not alone in your experiences, even though everyone’s experience may be different. If you’re struggling to manage your symptoms or looking for more information about endometriosis, look for a support group online to connect with others who share your experience. You can also find an endometriosis specialist in your area online, or by contacting local providers to see if they are trained in treating or managing this condition