Endometriosis has long puzzled medical professionals but recent leaps forward in understanding the condition have revealed how it affects women across the world.
It's treatable and the earlier the diagnosis, the quicker the path to effective management of the condition opens up.
Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys of Medicare24 called endometriosis a "great pretender" because the condition can present symptoms in various parts of the body, making diagnosis particularly challenging.
"While it most commonly grows in the pelvic area, such as the pouch of Douglas or around the bowel, endometrial tissue has been found in the thyroid, diaphragm and even the lungs," he said.
The biggest mystery surrounding endometriosis is how the tissue travels to different parts of the body. There are several theories about how this occurs.
"The lymphatic system, which drains fluid from tissues, may act as a highway for endometrial tissue to spread throughout the body," he said.
This means women with endometriosis can experience symptoms that may not immediately suggest a gynaecological issue.
"It's a condition that can migrate parts of its sum to anywhere in the body, which is why it can be so difficult to diagnose," he added.
This story is from the September 30, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 30, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
JOSE IS 'SPECIAL'
The Spaniard is on the cusp of making Bucs the first side to win the MTNS8 three consecutive times.
'Rusty' Foden is on the way back
Phil Foden said he is still \"rusty\" but scored his first goal of the season as Manchester City thrashed Slovan Bra tislava 4-0 to record their first Champions League win of the campaign.
Bok takeaways benefit Morne
Talented scrumhalf Morne van den Berg is hopeful of implementing lessons learned.
Challenge to big 5 law firms
Minister gazettes legal code which sector indicated they would litigate against.
Woolies boss gets R100m
Bagattini's total remuneration drops to R65.3m in FY2024.
Shrinking lake on Albanian-Greek border struggles to survive
Plants and reeds have sprouted up as the waters of Little Prespa Lake on the Albanian-Greek border recede, their beauty overshadowing a painful truth: the lake is slowly dying.
'Only link to outside world'
It has become one of few reliable sources of information left.’
Iran will 'pay' for missiles
Tehran warns of even bigger attack.
Africa's road safety crisis
The dilapidated state of vehicles isa major factor.
Acsa denies lack of medical safety measures
Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has denied having inadequate medical safety measures after a death at King Shaka International Airport on 14 September.