Blog Post

Endometriosis - What Is It?

  • By Catherine Blom-Smith
  • •
  • 08 Mar, 2018
  • •

Understanding this difficult diagnosis and the effect it has on lives

3-11 March is Endometriosis Awareness Week. Getting a diagnosis of endometriosis in the UK takes 7.5 years on average due to a lack of understanding. 

What is it?

Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to the tissue lining the uterus (the endometrium) grow outside the uterus. The fallopian tubes, ovaries and the tissue lining the pelvis can all be affected, and the condition can sometimes spread beyond the pelvic organs. Endometriosis is a long-term condition that can have a significant impact on your life, but there are lots of treatments that can help manage pain. It can be identified from a number of symptoms – however, these can vary significantly from person to person so this is by no means an exhaustive list: 

What are the symptoms?

* heavy periods
* pain in your lower pelvis or stomach that gets worse during your period
* nausea, constipation, diarrhoea or blood in your pee during your period
* pain during bowel movements
* excessive period pain that stops you doing normal activities
* pain during or after sex
* difficulty getting pregnant

What treatments are out there?

As mentioned earlier, it can be difficult to diagnose this condition because the symptoms can vary considerably, and many other conditions can cause similar symptoms.

There are lots of possible treatments for endometriosis, which include painkillers, hormonal medicines and contraceptives, and sometimes surgery. However, this is no pill that can effectively cure it. Surgery also carries an extra risk of complication.

Some people recommend more natural, holistic treatments. You could drink fertility teas, reduce your chemical intake, eat more vegetables and flaxseeds and omega-3 fatty acids, as recommended in this YourTea blog. 

No More Taboo does not encourage any one method over another – it’s all about finding the right solution for each individual. Changing diet can also be a way to manage pain: 

How can pain be managed?

One way of managing pain more naturally is to readjust your lifestyle. Research has shown a link between endometriosis and diets that are high in red meat – the researchers behind these findings suggest that high amounts of fat in foods like beef encourage your body to produce prostaglandins, which may lead to more estrogen production. Extra estrogen could be what causes excess endometrial tissue to grow, although this is unconfirmed. 

Exercise can also help reduce and manage excessive pain – exercise can limit the product of estrogen and make periods lighter, which can improve some symptoms of endometriosis over time. Some studies even show that spending time doing high-intensity exercises like running can reduce your risk of developing endometriosis. 

Of course, endometriosis is a long-term condition that cannot necessarily be cured, so it’s important to find a way of managing your symptoms. Endometriosis UK has a pain and symptoms diary which you can use to write down your symptoms, both before seeing a doctor and to keep track of your body in general. Endometriosis UK also functions as a support group of people who are experiencing similar symptoms. Some women's health issues are not always taken seriously by some doctors, as detailed in Chloe's blog here, so it can take a while for a diagnosis. Sometimes it takes a little perseverance if you feel your symptoms are outside what is normal for you or interfering excessively with daily life.

What can be done to help those with the condition?

Endometriosis is a life-effecting condition and can be tricky to manage, even with the best resources. It is hard to imagine just how much more difficult it would be dealing with this condition if you had limited resources, were in a vulnerable position, or homeless. No More Taboo works with vulnerable people in Bristol and the South West to help open discussions around menstruation, provide access to resources and care and end period poverty. You can donate here to No More Taboo, and proceeds from our shop go towards our workshops and campaigns to end period poverty and educate everyone about periods.

Here's some more information on endometriosis from the Guardian.
Find more tips and women's stories about living with endometriosis here.

Join us for Period Poverty Training!-4th Mar Plymouth and 12th Mar Bristol!

By Chloe Tingle • 25 Feb, 2019
We are hosting two period poverty training courses this spring. See the details on eventbrite.

Staff Training at CoLab

By Rebecca Batala • 30 Jan, 2019
Here's a little insight into what our Staff Training at CoLab was like...

WOW Exeter 2018...the highlights

By Chloe Tingle • 18 Oct, 2018

WOW Women of the World festivals have been popping up across the world, if you get the chance to go along to one we would strongly recommend it.

WOW – Women of the World  festival celebrates women and girls, and looks at the obstacles that stop them from achieving their potential.

Around the world, individuals and communities are insisting on the simple proposition that women and girls must have equal rights and asking the question: why is gender equality taking so long?

Southbank Centre's WOW – Women of the World  festival is a global network of festivals which provides a platform for celebrating what has been achieved, and exploring all the ways we can change the world for the better.

What’s not to love?

Our Founder, Chloe, and her Mum Angela went along to represent No More Taboo with a stall across the two days. Here’s her highlights:

“Although we didn’t get much time to take in all the discussions as we were kept busy wo-manning the stall (thanks Mum for helping out)! We had some great discussions around gender, equality, inclusivity and of course periods with new customers, supporters, other panellists and some old friends who came to see us.

In fact, we were really pleased to catch up with Plan International UK who were opening the festival with a discussion about Period Activism exactly one year on since the launch of our #BreaktheBarriers research and Period Poverty Conference that we ran in collaboration with Plan.

By Your Leave

By Catherine Blom-Smith • 01 Oct, 2018
We look at what introducing menstrual leave to workplaces in the UK might mean.

It Must be Lush

By Iloni Kingston-Smith • 17 Sep, 2018

On the first weekend of September, No More Taboo set up shop at Lush Cribbs Causeway for their Charity Pot weekend.

The Lush Charity Pot is a wonderfully creamy shea-butter hand lotion where all the sales money (excluding VAT) goes towards a chosen charity or non-for-profit. This scheme is designed to help boost grass-roots, small and local organisations, like ourselves, financially so that we can continue to do the work we do such as our Tackling Period Poverty programme.

As we were Lush’s chosen organisation for the weekend of the 1-2 September, one of our volunteers, Iloni, and one of our advisors, Carolyn, went along to wo-man the (suitably Lush-styled aesthetic) stall that Lush had kindly provided for us. We took along a range of our products, stacks of leaflets and information as well as our enthusiasm for talking about all things to do with periods.

Over the weekend, we sold over £200’s worth of stock with Ruby Cups and Honour Your Flow re-usable pads proving most popular with Lush customers. On top of this, Lush sold so many of their Charity Pots that £340.60 was raised for No More Taboo – which was amazing! 

However exciting the money side of things were with this event, what I personally took away as being the real highlight of the weekend was the number and nature of conversations we shared with customers. 

Mothers and daughters came and chatted to us about how they agreed it was so important to use re-usable products for personal and financial reasons as well as for the planet’s sake. Boyfriends accompanied their other halves as they prodded and probed the range of menstrual cups on display. Older women commented on how it’s such a relief to be able to talk about menstruation in public and with people you’ve only just met. They regaled of a time when periods were even more hush-hush and celebrated with us out mission of there being No More Taboo.

We would like to thank Lush Cribbs Causeway for being such wonderful hosts, encouraging every customer that came through their doors to consider buying the Charity Pot or simply to chat with us. Each member of their staff team was incredibly warm and so keen to find out more about what we do. On behalf of all of us at No More Taboo, thank you.

Over the Moon(cup)

By Catriona Dickie • 26 Jul, 2018
What is a Mooncup?

If you're following No More Taboo, chances are you are already aware that a Mooncup is a silicone menstrual cup. It is inserted vaginally and used throughout your period. There are two different sizes: size A, for those who are either thirty and over or have given birth vaginally, and size B, for under thirties who have not birthed a child vaginally. 

Why Use One?

The main reason I wanted to convert to a Mooncup is because I was feeling concerned about the amount of waste my period was generating every month. During the twelve years I've been menstruating I must have thrown thousands of tampons into landfill , and as I became more aware of the impact this is having on the planet, switching to a sustainable sanitary product seemed like a straightforward lifestyle change that would really make a difference.

Another advantage for frugal (or rather, perpetually skint) me was that for a £20 upfront investment I'd have an item that would last up to 10 years. And while a box of own-brand tampons is only a pound a pop, there's always a risk that a trip to Boots will result in an impulse buy and before I know it I've bought a new nail varnish and a Graze box and end up spending a tenner.

I also love to travel and have more than once found myself in a situation where I'm in a country without ready access to tampons. I'm not a big fan of pads and had found myself obsessively carrying around a box of tampons with me at all times and becoming anxious when I didn't have one on me. The great thing about the Mooncup, for me, is that all you have to do is empty it out and with a quick rinse or wipe it can be used again.

Finally, Mooncups are not known to carry any risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, which I think we'll all agree is what nightmares are made of for those of us who menstruate. 

Putting it In

I was lucky enough to come on my period on a lazy Saturday afternoon. With no plans for the day that involved leaving the comfort of my home, I was able to fiddle around with folding and inserting and looking up advice online. After three failed attempts , the cup stayed put and I heard the satisfying sound of the vacuum seal closing in. Minimal leakage did occur over the course of the day but once I got the hang of the fold-and-insert method I was confident enough to wear my proverbial white jeans, like those women in the adverts who bleed blue menstrual blood.

Out and About

As I write this I've been using my Mooncup for about 6 months, and it did take me about 3 cycles to completely get used to it. I think after over a decade of using tampons, which are a lot smaller and more streamlined, this is probably normal. For me it was worth persevering and the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, of which I can't think of any aside from the following: I have dropped it down the loo while taking it out a couple of times. This has never been much of a problem until last weekend when I dropped it down a portaloo never to be seen again. So much for that 10 year investment.

Verdict

What can I say, I'm a convert. For anyone willing to spend £20 I'd really say its worth giving the Mooncup a chance and persevering with the tricky first days. As for me, I'll be buying another to replace my lost menstrual cup and will be using organic tampons at festivals from now on.  

Feeling Inspired?

Are you ready to give the Mooncup a chance? Buy your Mooncup, or another menstrual cup, from our shop , where all profits go towards tackling period poverty in the UK.

If you're wondering how else you can reduce your plastic consumption, read about how me and Catherine challenged ourselves to a plastic-free fortnight. 

Big Green Week with UWE Bristol

By Catherine Blom-Smith • 19 Jul, 2018
Watch this space for information on how No More Taboo will be involved in Big Green Week, UWE's annual festival of eco ideas, events and smart living. 

For more information, take a look at their website:  https://www1.uwe.ac.uk/whatson/biggreenweek.aspx

Environmenstrual Week of Action

By Catherine Blom-Smith • 19 Jul, 2018
A whole week of period-related and enviro-conscious action! What could be better? This event will run from the 13th of to the 20th of October. Watch this space for details on how No More Taboo will be involved. 

Read more here:  https://www.wen.org.uk/environmenstrual-week-of-action/

No More Taboo Workshop at WOW!

By Catherine Blom-Smith • 19 Jul, 2018
At this year's Women of the World Festival, our founder Chloe will be holding a workshop at their event in Exeter. She will be talking everything you need to know about cups! This event is on Sunday 14th October. Find out more at this link:  https://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/women-of-the-world/

Summertime Sailin' on the Red Sea

By Jenna Yates • 19 Jul, 2018
Find out how we've been getting ready for the highlight of our summer, Shambala Festival, where we'll be helping you safely navigate the festival period... Jump on board for a period-friendly weekend trip away with the monthlies!
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