Health and Wellness - Fighting Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown origin characterized by the growth, outside the uterus, of tissue similar to that which lines the inside of the uterus (endometrium), which can cause pain, infertility, or both. It is a systemic disease that affects the entire body, has no cure, and is often progressive, and in some cases can be disabling.

It is a potentially debilitating condition that primarily affects women of childbearing age. It is one of the most difficult gynecological disorders to manage due to its association with pelvic pain and infertility, its gradual and nonspecific onset, delayed diagnosis, and often progressive nature.

Endometriosis is a health problem in Spain and worldwide due to its prevalence (approximately 200 million women) and the enormous use of healthcare resources.

The prevalence of endometriosis is difficult to determine due to its diagnostic difficulty caused by the diversity of its symptoms and severity, as well as the number of asymptomatic patients. It is estimated to affect approximately 10% of women of reproductive age, between 50-60% of women and adolescents with pelvic pain, and up to 50% of women suffering from infertility. The prevalence of asymptomatic women is approximately 2% to 50%, depending on the diagnostic criteria used and the population studied.

The location of endometriosis is pelvic in most cases; however, in a small group of patients, it can present in different regions of the pelvis. There are four forms of presentation of the disease: peritoneal endometriosis, cystic endometriosis, deep endometriosis, and extrapelvic forms of endometriosis.

The Association of Women Affected by Endometriosis (ADAEC) was born out of the need to give a voice to patients suffering from this invisible disease, silenced for so many years by the normalization of menstrual pain.

ADAEC is a large working group made up of women committed to demanding health rights, raising awareness, and helping those affected.

ADAEC's fundamental goals are:

- To offer help to all patients with endometriosis, as well as their families, by providing them with information and psychological support.

- To raise awareness and educate the general population about the potential impact of the disease.

- To promote research on endometriosis and encourage medical specialization in this field within the Public Health System.

- To promote equal opportunities between men and women.

- To promote the participation and presence of women in political, economic, cultural, and social life.

- To promote the involvement of public authorities in the development of assisted reproduction techniques and the laws that regulate them. - Promote popular legislative initiatives to achieve the Association's goals through laws.