Endometriosis awareness campaign

From left: Dr Anjli, Dr Premitha, and Surita officiating the campaign

“I am still a Woman”, an endometriosis awareness campaign, was held at Pantai Hospital, Kuala Lumpur on 19 March 2016. The campaign aimed to increase the public’s knowledge on endometriosis and the importance of early treatment, as well as to eliminate shame of addressing women's reproductive diseases and menstrual health.

"Myendosis is a platform where we provide emotional support for women to share their problems and seek medical advice regarding the disease. I hope this campaign will inspire more women to take charge of their lives,” said Endometriosis Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur (Myendosis) President Surita Mogan.

There are about 350,000 Malaysians who have this disease. Pantai Hospital obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Premitha Damodaran said the forecast was based on a survey conducted in the US. 

"Pain during menstruation is normal but what is not normal is when the pain starts before period, during period, and at times after period,” she continued. According to her, age is not the main factor as the disease can affect females in the younger age bracket as well.

She defined endometriosis as the presence of endometrial glands outside the uterus. Some of the symptoms are period pain, pelvic pain, infertility, pain during intercourse, pain during defecation, bleeding, and depression.

PrimaNora Medical Centre’s Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin introduced the audience to aggravating factors that lead to endometriosis. She elaborated on oestrogen dominance, the leading factor that causes the disease. According to her, the imbalance of oestrogens can lead to major problems in controlling the disease.

Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Raman Subramaniam, advised the audience to take a gynaecological examination on fertility at the early stage of marriage.  Also present at the event was National Population and Family Development Deputy Director-General Dr Anjli Doshi Gandhi.

This campaign was organised by UTAR Centre for Media and Creative Communication (CMCC), Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Endometriosis Association (MyEndosis), Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, and Bayer Co (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.