Mangaluru: Five second-year Pre-University students of St Aloysius PU College have launched an initiative to raise awareness about endometriosis, an often overlooked condition that affects millions of women worldwide. A group of students comprising Melisa Jessica Aranha, Diya Melita Pinto, Jean D’Souza, Aaditri H Bekal and Cera Oreva Furtado has launched an awareness campaign on endometriosis, aiming to encourage women to seek timely medical attention for persistent menstrual and pelvic pain.Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. The disease can cause severe pelvic pain, menstrual complications and fertility-related issues. Globally, it is estimated to affect more than 190 million women and is linked to infertility in 30% to 50% of patients.The students noted that endometriosis remains difficult to diagnose, with delays ranging from seven to 12 years. One challenge is the absence of reliable biomarkers. While elevated levels of the CA-125 protein are sometimes associated with the condition, they may also resemble markers seen in certain cancers, complicating diagnosis.Their research found that retrograde menstrual flow, in which menstrual blood moves backward through the reproductive tract, occurs in nearly 90% of women. However, only about 10% develop progressive endometriosis, suggesting that factors such as immune-system dysregulation and genetics may influence disease progression.As part of the project, the students conducted a survey that highlighted a significant awareness gap. While 42.4% of respondents had never heard of endometriosis, 43.9% reported having no prior knowledge of the condition. Encouragingly, 77.6% expressed interest in learning more after taking part in the survey.Drawing on around 25 research papers and information from reputed medical institutions, the team also prepared a nutritional reference guide to help women better understand dietary factors that may influence symptoms. They stressed that dietary changes are not a cure and cannot replace medical treatment, but said evidence-based nutritional guidance and greater awareness can support symptom management and improve quality of life.“Endometriosis is a condition that causes greater morbidity than mortality. It can result in severe pain, discomfort and disturbances in a woman’s daily life,” said gynaecologist Dr Kavita Dikshit.
