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CONTRACEPTION VS FERTILITY PART 1 29 “It’s really important to understand that just because you have endometriosis doesn’t mean you won’t be able to conceive.” “When we first started dating, he came along with me to a specialist appointment – this was the very first gynaecologist I saw,” she said. “\[The gynaecologist\] looked at us both and went: ‘Oh, well you need to have a baby’. And I was like, ‘Oh yeah, OK, we’ve only been together a couple of months’. Way to put pressure on. “I’ve heard so many similar stories of girls who’ve really struggled to get themselves into relationships because of endometriosis. The guys don’t understand some of the things these girls are going through and their needs at the time. How a pharmacy assistant can help Ms Ciccia says pharmacists and pharmacy assistants need to be aware of the severity of this disease. “It is not just bad periods,” she said. “Endometriosis is a true quality-of life- disease that affects every aspect of a patient’s life – physical, social, financial and emotional. “Patients can go through surgeries that can take up to 18 hours. This is a severe, chronic condition and while at times there seems like there’s nothing that can be done, a little understanding can go a long way to healing an ‘endo warrior’.” Ms Angel-Mobbs emphasises the importance of endometriosis awareness among all health professionals. “It’s really important to understand that periods are painful for some people and that it’s not quite as simple as, ‘Here’s some Panadol, you’ll be fine, go home’,” she said. “If there’s someone who’s coming into the pharmacy constantly, then I’d say there’s probably more of an issue than just a really bad period. “I think retail pharmacy assistants should be trying to get an understanding that \[some\] women will potentially be in more pain than others. “It’s about getting the awareness and the education into stores and educating people.” Dr Jacobson adds that RPAs need to dig deeper. “You need to get a history in order to understand their concerns at the time,” he said. “Is it about fertility or is it about pain, and what aspects of pain? It’s about trying to assess what it is they’re looking for and need.” Mr Quigley’s advice to RPAs is that while there are “a lot of symptoms that give pharmacy assistants scope to intervene – for example, pain, low iron and bloating”, an assistant should “be someone who can support customers \[who are\] living in pain for a week every month”, because “if it’s month after month, it’s no fun”. References: Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, 2020. Endometriosis. jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/ endometriosis \[accessed 3/4/20\]. For more information about Endometriosis Australia, visit: endometriosisaustralia.org RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • MAY 2020