麻豆约拍

Endometriosis is a disorder where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere. It鈥檚 a condition that affects 176 million women worldwide, yet only a fifth of us have ever heard of it. It causes exceptionally heavy bleeding during menstruation, excruciating pain, and in some cases - infertility.

More than 1,200 women who suffer from endometriosis shared their experiences with The Nine. Nearly all said the condition had impacted badly on their mental health, career opportunities, and sexual relationships, and even led to suicidal thoughts.

Doctors don鈥檛 know what causes it, and there鈥檚 no cure. But experts in Scotland are carrying out the first clinical trial of its kind in a bid to develop a treatment. Louise Cowie reports.