– I tried the whole sandwich list of hormone preparations. The whole process has been very painful, says Maria Bøe-Ludvigsen. She has the disease endometriosis. At 17, she tried many forms of pain relief, including surgery. Finally, she was put into artificial menopause for a short period. The road to getting better took so long that she had to take the third year of high school again. – The pain is one thing, but I also pay with time. I see that others who were in my class are abroad or studying, while I am left sitting on the school desk with the coal underneath. Fortunately, she is somewhat better. Never researched Gynecologist at Ullevål hospital Guri Bårdstu Majak meets Bøe-Ludvigsen for a routine check-up. Almost all of her patients have endometriosis, and this year there are 2,000 women being treated for it in the department. The gynecologist believes that there are a great many women in Norway who struggle without receiving treatment. Now she is ready to start a major research project with the youngest in mind. – Norway has not researched menstruation-related pain in young people at all, says Majak. Both Oslo University Hospital, OUS, and the University of Oslo suspect that there are many young women who are absent from school because they are in so much pain. Majak is project manager for the research and has worked with endometriosis since 2008. Photo: Ingvil Øvretveit / news The gynecology department at OUS will find out how many women at upper secondary school have severe menstrual pain, how many of them get help, seek help and how they relate to the daily pains. Are you a woman and experiencing severe period pain? Yes ?♀️ No ?♀️ Show result In the first instance, they collect figures from all upper secondary schools in Oslo. The aim is to collect more money and resources for measures when she can show how many people are struggling. Getting worse According to a large number of international reports that Majak has read, the pain of seven out of ten people with endometriosis starts when they are 15 years old or younger. It is important to take pain-relieving measures as soon as possible. – The longer it takes, the greater the risk that the pain will become severe, chronic and more difficult to treat. The average time to be diagnosed with endometriosis is seven years. Some patients have been afflicted by the disease from the age of 15 until they are 30 before being diagnosed. Facts about endometriosis Endometriosis is an inflammation-like condition where tissue similar to that in the uterus grows outside the uterus. It takes an average of seven years to be diagnosed. It is usually detected by peephole surgery. Because the symptoms can be very different, misdiagnosis is common. Common symptoms can include severe pain during menstruation, heavy bleeding, difficulty in conceiving, pain during intercourse and fatigue. Endometriosis occurs in approximately 10 percent of women and is the most common female disease we have Many people live without symptoms About 40 percent of infertile people have endometriosis The tissue can grow on fallopian tubes, ovaries, peritoneum, intestines, ureter and bladder The most common form of treatment is peephole surgery and contraceptives such as birth control pills or spirals Source: Endometriosis Association – Many young girls tell of an experience of not being taken seriously. Other people point out that the pain and absence from school come from other factors, such as the well-being at school. In many cases, hormone preparations help to reduce the symptoms. This can be birth control pills, a birth control stick or an IUD. Where this is not enough, the gynecologist suspects a more serious illness. Then there is often a need for more investigation and assessment with a view to, among other things, surgery. – At OUS, they perform daily surgery. But surgical interventions are no “quick fix”. In addition, several methods are therefore recommended as additional treatment. Bøe-Ludvigsen hopes that the research means that fewer women in the future will have to go through the suffering she had to go through. Photo: Ingvil Øvretveit / news This is, for example, physiotherapy because stiff and tight muscles in the area often increase the pain. Many also get a psychologist to cope with a difficult everyday life, says Majak. Looking bright for the future Thanks to close follow-up by the hospital, Bøe-Ludvigsen has far less pain and absence from school. She only needs four subjects before she has finished upper secondary school. – Now I try to enjoy the period I have without pain, but I still have periods where I am in pain. After several years of pain, terrible side effects after hormone treatment, I have learned to appreciate the good periods. Right now I can’t bear to think that I could have severe pain again. – What do you want to do when you finish high school? – Take some time off, work and maybe travel. I want to study something in medicine and health, but I’m not completely bombproof.
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Menstrual pain is now being researched for the first time – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
