{"id":642,"date":"2025-10-25T10:34:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T10:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/?p=642"},"modified":"2026-03-21T12:03:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T12:03:55","slug":"when-period-pain-isnt-just-cramps-lets-talk-endometriosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/when-period-pain-isnt-just-cramps-lets-talk-endometriosis\/","title":{"rendered":"When Period Pain its not Just Cramps\u2014Let\u2019s Talk Endometriosis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, many women have been told that <strong>painful periods are normal<\/strong> something to bear with strength, prayer, and painkillers. But here&rsquo;s the truth: while mild cramps can be part of menstruation, <strong>severe, life-disrupting pain is not your portion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> It could be a sign of <strong>endometriosis<\/strong>, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it, causing intense pain, heavy bleeding, and sometimes fertility issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sadly, countless women, especially in Africa, suffer in silence, believing it&rsquo;s just &ldquo;the way women are made.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s time to break that myth, start the conversation, and bring more awareness to a condition that has been misunderstood and overlooked for far too long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Point<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Understanding What Endometriosis Really Is<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pain Is a Signal, Not a Punishment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why Endometriosis Often Goes Undiagnosed in African Women<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Understanding What Endometriosis Really Is<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Endometriosis is&nbsp;<mark>a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining, called the endometrium, grows outside the uterus<\/mark>.&nbsp;This misplaced tissue can be found on organs like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic tissues, and it can cause painful symptoms, particularly during periods.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Endometriosis is a complex disease that affects many women&nbsp;globally from the onset of their first period (menarche) through menopause, regardless of ethnic origin or social status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Endometriosis can also affect transgender men and non-binary individuals who menstruate. In women with endometriosis, endometrium-like tissue (usually found only in the lining of the uterus) grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation and scar tissue formation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is currently no known cure, but endometriosis symptoms can be treated with medicines or, in some women, surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Endometriosis is diagnosed using imaging techniques such as ultrasound. Invasive procedures like surgery may also be necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Long delays in diagnosis are common, and symptoms often persist or recur after treatment is initiated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Mylurah is your culturally rooted wellness space built for African women tracking their periods, pregnancies, and postpartum healing<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pain Is a Signal, Not a Punishment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&rsquo;s a harmful myth that &ldquo;painful periods are a woman&rsquo;s cross to bear.&rdquo; In reality, <strong>severe or chronic period pain isn&rsquo;t normal<\/strong> it&rsquo;s your body&rsquo;s way of alerting you that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dismissing this pain delays diagnosis and worsens the condition. Women need to feel empowered to speak up, seek help, and demand proper medical attention without shame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For far too long, women have been taught to see menstrual pain as a natural part of being female  a sort of monthly suffering to be endured in silence. But let&rsquo;s be clear: <strong>pain is not a punishment<\/strong>, and it&rsquo;s definitely not something you should just &ldquo;pray away&rdquo; or ignore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When your period pain becomes unbearable the kind that bends you over, keeps you up at night, or makes it hard to go about your day your body is speaking, and it deserves to be heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the case of <strong>endometriosis<\/strong>, that pain is a powerful signal that tissue meant to line your uterus is growing where it shouldn&rsquo;t on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other pelvic organs. Each month, this tissue thickens and bleeds just like the lining of your womb, but because it has nowhere to go, it causes inflammation, scarring, and unbearable cramps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many women mistake this for &ldquo;just bad periods,&rdquo; but there&rsquo;s nothing normal about pain that makes you lose your strength, miss work, or rely on constant medication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your body is not betraying you, it&rsquo;s asking for help. Listening to it early can make all the difference in finding relief and reclaiming your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Symptoms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. It&rsquo;s often linked with menstrual periods. Although many people have cramping during their periods, those with endometriosis often describe menstrual pain that&rsquo;s far worse than usual. The pain also may become worse over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Common symptoms of endometriosis include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Painful periods.<\/strong>&nbsp;Pelvic pain and cramping may start before a menstrual period and last for days into it. You also may have lower back and stomach pain. Another name for painful periods is dysmenorrhea.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pain with sex.<\/strong>&nbsp;Pain during or after sex is common with endometriosis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pain with bowel movements or urination.<\/strong>&nbsp;You&rsquo;re most likely to have these symptoms before or during a menstrual period.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Excessive bleeding.<\/strong>&nbsp;Sometimes, you may have heavy menstrual periods or bleeding between periods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Infertility.<\/strong>&nbsp;For some people, endometriosis is first found during tests for infertility treatment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Causes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The exact cause of endometriosis isn&rsquo;t clear. But some possible causes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Retrograde menstruation.<\/strong>&nbsp;This is when menstrual blood flows back through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity instead of out of the body. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The blood contains endometrial cells from the inner lining of the uterus. These cells may stick to the pelvic walls and surfaces of pelvic organs. There, they might grow and continue to thicken and bleed over the course of each menstrual cycle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transformed peritoneal cells.<\/strong>&nbsp;Experts suggest that hormones or immune factors might help transform cells that line the inner side of the abdomen, called peritoneal cells, into cells that are like those that line the inside of the uterus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Embryonic cell changes.<\/strong>&nbsp;Hormones such as estrogen may transform embryonic cells in the earliest stages of development into endometrial-like cell growths during puberty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Surgical scar complication.<\/strong>&nbsp;Endometrial cells may attach to scar tissue from a cut made during surgery to the stomach area, such as a C-section.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Endometrial cell transport.<\/strong>&nbsp;The blood vessels or tissue fluid system may move endometrial cells to other parts of the body.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Immune system condition.<\/strong>&nbsp;A problem with the immune system may make the body unable to recognize and destroy endometriosis tissue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Risk factors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Factors that raise the risk of endometriosis include:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>One or more relatives with endometriosis, such as a mother, aunt or sister.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Never giving birth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Starting your period at an early age.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Going through menopause at an older age.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Short menstrual cycles, for instance, less than 27 days.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Heavy menstrual periods that last longer than seven days.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Having higher levels of estrogen in your body or a greater lifetime exposure to estrogen your body produces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Low body mass index.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>By joining MyLurah community group, you can take advantage of the platform and improve your chances of meeting people of like mind who are ready to listen to you and offer solutions anytime.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Endometriosis Often Goes Undiagnosed in African Women<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The exact prevalence rate of endometriosis in Africa is unknown with different studies reporting conflicting results between different countries. A study carried out in South Africa on factors contributing to infertility reported that the prevalence of endometriosis among the black population was lower (2%) than that of the White population (7%) (Wiswedel &amp; Allen 1989). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, in a cross-sectional study in Nigeria,&nbsp;Fawole&nbsp;<em>et al<\/em>. (2015<a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC9578059\/#bib2\">)<\/a>&nbsp;reported a prevalence of 48.1% in women having a diagnostic laparoscopy, stating it was one of the highest prevalence rates in Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The difference in prevalence reported by the different authors may be attributed to several factors including access to healthcare, differences in methods used to determine and diagnose endometriosis, classification of the condition, and the number of individuals involved in the studies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, the paucity of research on endometriosis among women of different races and social statuses is likely to be a key contributing factor to the different prevalence rates reported (Kyama&nbsp;<em>et al<\/em>. 2007). Some older reports suggested lower recorded rates in Black women, but current reviews highlight probable under-detection and lack of population-wide data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Women living in Africa, as opposed to those of African descent living in countries such as the USA, are under-represented in the genetic studies which have identified common genetic risk factors associated with high-grade disease&nbsp;<strong>(<\/strong>Zondervan&nbsp;<em>et al<\/em>. 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Diagnosis and Treatment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Diagnostic delay of endometriosis is seen globally on average 7&ndash;10 years, but this delay is a major challenge faced by women in Africa which is exacerbated by lack of trained specialists who can accurately diagnose endometriosis in its early stages (Kyama&nbsp;<em>et al.<\/em>&nbsp;2007) and lack of education about the symptoms of endometriosis among African women and healthcare workers (Kyama&nbsp;<em>et al<\/em>. 2007). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An acute problem is the need to break down taboos and increase the range of accessible information so that women and healthcare providers are better able to discuss issues related to menstruation, infertility, pain symptoms, and when to seek medical attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a semi-structured interview conducted with 25 South African women diagnosed with endometriosis, most participants stated that they had little or no knowledge about endometriosis; thus, they relied on the information provided by the healthcare providers, which in some cases was not sufficient (Nnoaham&nbsp;<em>et al.<\/em>&nbsp;2011).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first East and Southern Africa regional symposium on improving menstrual health management for adolescent girls and women held in 2018 highlighted key challenges including unmet needs, negative social norms, and beliefs, as well as stigma and discrimination (Department of Women in the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa &amp; UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office 2017). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specifically in African culture, issues surrounding menstruation are considered personal and this means that women often do not feel free to discuss anything unusual about their menstrual cycle for fear of stigmatization leading to diagnostic delay even if symptoms are severe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report also noted that there was both limited data and &lsquo;silence&rsquo; on vaginal bleeding not related to menstruation, which can be associated with conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, and post-partum bleeding. One of the conclusions from the meeting was to highlight the urgent need for improved education of healthcare workers and menstruating women on what constitutes normal and abnormal vaginal bleeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Treatment<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is a wide variation on the standards of care experienced by women with endometriosis in Africa. Roomaney and Kagee (Nnoaham&nbsp;<em>et al<\/em>. 2011), reporting on a sample of South African women diagnosed with endometriosis, recorded that they experienced difficulties in explaining their symptoms and asking questions with the fear that they will appear ignorant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They also noted that women who had access to private healthcare found laparoscopy to be expensive, while those who sought care from public facilities had to wait for long periods for diagnostic laparoscopy and surgery to treat endometriosis (Nnoaham&nbsp;<em>et al<\/em>. 2011). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, they noted other concerns such as poor access to treatment, limited treatment options, incorrect diagnosis, and the side effects that are associated with some of the treatments (Nnoaham&nbsp;<em>et al<\/em>. 2011). There are anecdotal reports that most African women resort to nonmedical therapies such as traditional herbal medicines and nutritional and behavioral therapies to manage chronic pelvic pain due to endometriosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, there are only limited studies on the effectiveness of herbal medicines and their use (Kyama&nbsp;<em>et al<\/em>. 2007). Of note is that access to, or use of, existing medical therapies, was not favored because they are expensive and most of them act as contraceptives, which were at odds with societal emphasis on fertility&nbsp;<strong>(<\/strong>Kyama&nbsp;<em>et al<\/em>. 2007).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>At Mylurah we&rsquo;re building a digital platform that centers Black women&rsquo;s reproductive journeys, including culturally sensitive support for <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;PCOS&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, is a hormonal condition that affects how a woman&rsquo;s ovaries work. It can cause irregular menstrual cycles, hormonal changes, and sometimes difficulties with fertility.&lt;\/div&gt;\"  href=\"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/glossary\/polycystic-ovary-syndrome\/\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'  tabindex='0' role='link'>PCOS<\/a>. Because representation in care isn&rsquo;t optional, it&rsquo;s essential<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Painful periods are not your portion, they&rsquo;re only signal, not a sentence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every woman deserves to live without monthly suffering being dismissed as &ldquo;normal.&rdquo; By speaking up, seeking help, and spreading awareness about <strong>endometriosis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We break the silence and empower more women to take control of their health. Your pain is real, and it deserves attention not endurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Read Also:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/heavy-periods-in-black-women\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"632\">Heavy Periods in Black Women<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/why-black-women-experience-fibroids-more-often\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"614\">Why Black Women Experience Fibroids More Often<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/period-blood-colour-what-it-means-to-your-health-especially-for-anemia-in-african-women\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"621\">Period Blood Colour: What it means to your health, especially for anemia in African Women<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For years, many women have been told that painful periods are normal something to bear with strength, prayer, and painkillers.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1056,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[40,41,36],"class_list":["post-642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-period","tag-endometriosis","tag-endometriosis-signs","tag-mylurah-period"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=642"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":965,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642\/revisions\/965"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}