'Yellow Planet': A Play on Endometriosis Awareness

I had my first period at 12. It was dramatic from the start. 12 days of bleeding and embarrassing questions from the gynecologist- in front of my parents! They diagnosed me with 'hormonal imbalance' eventually. Each time my period came around the pain was disarming. By the time I turned 18 I was constantly visiting the doctor for heavy periods and like seemingly everyone else, I was put on birth control pills to control my hormones and regulate flow.

Consequently, I only had a period when I 'felt like it'. And for a while it felt like the problems and the pain disappeared. Until the hormonal imbalance got out of control and I got breakthrough bleeding (READ MORE).

The pain returned when I quit the pill. It was unbearable. I knew it wasn't right medical caregivers and family assured me that it was 'normal' to have a painful period. I remember my high school nurse telling me I wasn't special and the pain was "all in my head".

It took years of visits to specialists to get a diagnosis of fibroids and though endometriosis was ruled out, the pain persists.

For women living with endometriosis, periods are debilitating and greatly reduce their quality of life.

The endometriosis awareness website endometriosis.org describes endometriosis as a condition in which tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus (called "the endometrium"), is found outside the uterus, where it induces a chronic inflammatory reaction that may result in scar tissue.

It is primarily found on the pelvic peritoneum, on the ovaries, in the recto-vaginal septum, on the bladder, and bowel. In very rare cases it has been found on the diaphragm and in the lungs.

Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years (ie. usually between the ages of 15 to 49), which is approximately 176 million women in the world.

However, endometriosis can start as early as a girl's first period, and menopause may not resolve the symptoms of endometriosis - especially if the woman has scar tissue or adhesions from the disease and/or surgery.

WebMD lists symptoms of endometriosis including: painful periods, painful ovulation, pain during or after sexual intercourse, heavy bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, and infertility, and can impact on general physical, mental, and social well being.

A general lack of awareness by both women and health care providers, due to a "normalisation" of symptoms, results in a significant delay from when a woman first experiences symptoms until she eventually is diagnosed and treated.

According to the World Health Organization, There is no known cure and, although endometriosis can be treated effectively with drugs, most treatments are not suitable for long-term use due to side-effects. Surgery can be effective to remove endometriosis lesions and scar tissue, but success rates are dependent on the extent of disease and the surgeon's skills.

According to endometriosis.org, there is no known cause of endometriosis but it is highly likely that certain genes predispose women to develop the disease . It is possible that age when the menstrual period starts, other gynaecologic factors, and environmental exposures influence whether a woman is affected. Whereas evidence has been weak with regards to exposure to dioxin (an environmental pollutant) [8] some evidence now supports exacerbation of its symptoms due to PCBs.

Read more on treatment and management HERE

The general apathy towards endometriosis makes it hard for those living with this condition to navigate the world and that's why PBAG Theater aims at raising awareness on the prevalence and management of endometriosis in Kenya through their professional theatrical works.