The Facts about Endometriosis

Many women take the birth control pill every day. While the most common reason women use the pill is to prevent pregnancy, 58 percent of pill users also cite non-contraceptive health benefits as a contributing factor.  

One of those non-contraceptive health benefits is the treatment of endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common but little-known health problem that affects one in 10 women of reproductive age.

Here’s more:

• Endometriosis affects more than 5 million women in the U.S. It’s most often diagnosed in women in their 30s and 40s, although it can occur in anyone who has a uterus, including transgender individuals.
• Endometriosis occurs when tissue from the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside of the uterus. The most common symptom is chronic pain, usually in the pelvic region, and most often during menstrual periods. Other symptoms can include intestinal pain, spotting or bleeding between periods, pain during sex, and in some cases, infertility.

There is no cure for endometriosis. However, for many people the condition can be managed with hormonal birth control. 

That’s right, birth control.

Here’s a simple fact: birth control is basic health care and has important health benefits for women and their families. PPINK has made birth control even more accessible through We Deliver, which delivers contraception supplies directly to your home.

If you think you might have endometriosis, you should make an appointment with your health care provider. It’s important for you to be honest and as specific as possible about your symptoms so they can provide the best care possible. The more your health care provider knows about you, the better they’re able to help you stay healthy.

As the nation’s leading women’s health care provider, advocate, and educator, Planned Parenthood encourages every woman to visit her health care provider regularly and to ask any questions she has about changes in her body, birth control, cancer screenings, or testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV.

To find a health center near you, enter your location information above or call 800-230-PLAN.

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