Founder and Executive Director of KEFA Katrina Alleyne (centre) shares a light moment with Deon Olton (left) and Dave Lowe (right) of the Off Road Junkies before heading on the road for the association’s first Endo-drive to raise awareness on the impact of endometriosis on women and by extension their partners.
ENDOMETRIOSIS month recently kicked into high gear as the Katrina Endometriosis Fund Association of Barbados (KEFA) held its first Endo-drive, as the association continues to raise awareness in Barbados of the debilitating condition.
Executive director of KEFA, Katrina Alleyne, was a joined by a number of supporters as well as some of the well-known motoring clubs, which were bedecked with yellow and white balloons as they made their way from the Grantley Adams School to Brandon’s Beach. In fact, the drive ended in the environs of the Coast Guard to facilitate the large number of vehicles.
Alleyne said she was pleased with the scores of persons who took time out of their schedules to support the association, which has been carrying out activities throughout the month of March, which is recognised as Endometriosis month across the globe. “Endometriosis affects 1 in ten women, therefore it affects 1 in ten men due to the trickle [down] effect of the condition.”
She said even though KEFA seminars brought out quite a lot of women that never heard about endometriosis, it was decided to take the knowledge to the communities. Alleyne lamented that there is still a level of taboo as it relates to talking about and treating painful periods. “It’s time to ‘ovary act’, Stop Normalising period pain,” Alleyne stressed.
The team effort, held under the theme “Yellow Explosion”, also included treats such as Kisses chocolates, which were decorated in the KEFA logo. Other refreshments also kept in theme, all in an effort to raise awareness. Alleyne thanked the many sponsors and other persons who came on board to help make the event a success.
Endometriosis is a medical condition that occurs when the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, grows in other places, such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries or along the pelvis. When that lining breaks down, like the regular lining in the uterus that produces menstruation, it has nowhere to go.
When endometriosis nvolves the ovaries, cysts called endometriomas may form. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, eventually developing scar tissue and adhesions – abnormal bands of fibrous tissue that can cause pelvic tissues and organs to stick to each other.
Symptoms include: Painful periods (dysmenorrhea); pelvic pain and cramping may begin before and extend several days into a menstrual period; pain with intercourse; pain with bowel movements or urination, excessive bleeding and infertility to name a few.