Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue from the lining of the uterus travels outside the uterus and grows in areas outside of the uterine lining. It results in pain, irregular bleeding and infertility, in some cases. The excess tissue usually grows in the pelvic area, particularly on the ovaries, bowel, rectum, lining of the pelvis and the bladder. It can occur in distant areas of the pelvis and abdomen as well if it travels through the bloodstream to distant areas.

During the menstrual cycle, the lining of the uterus builds up due to the influence of the hormones from the pituitary gland. The extraneous tissue also grows and when the menstrual period happens, the lining of the uterus bleeds and the extraneous endometriosis tissue bleeds as well, causing pain in the pelvic area because of the bleeding and inflammation it causes.

The tissue from the lining of the uterus passes through the fallopian tubes and spread to the areas listed above. It is present in some women but not in others. In those who have it, it happens every cycle and can lead to scar tissue build up in the abdomen and pelvis. The exact cause of endometriosis isn't known. Endometriosis can run in the family and be hereditary. It is usually diagnosed around the age of 25 to 35 but usually starts earlier than that.

Risk factors to endometriosis include beginning menstruation at an early age. If you have never had children, you are at greater risk and if you have frequent menstrual cycles, you can get endometriosis more likely. If your periods last seven days or longer, you can get endometriosis and if you have a closed hymen which blocks the flow of the menstrual period, you are at higher risk for endometriosis.

Pain is the most common symptom of women with endometriosis. You can have periods which are painful, pain in the abdomen during a period, pelvic cramps that occur before menstruation, pain during or after bowel movements or sex, or pain in the lower back that can occur at any time in the cycle. Some women have no symptoms at all except for infertility.

If you want to diagnose endometriosis, you can have a transvaginal ultrasound, which will pick up endometriomas, or collections of endometriosis outside of the uterus. It can also show up blood in the pelvic space. A pelvic exam can show the painful areas of the pelvis and may show endometriomas. Laparoscopy of the pelvis can visualize the endometriomas and bleeding areas of the pelvis.

Treatment of endometriosis depends on your age and on whether or not you want to conceive or not. It also depends on how severe your symptoms are and what you want to do about your pain. Options for pain relief and relief of endometriosis include medications to control the pain of endometriosis. There are medications the block the phenomenon of endometriosis. You can have surgery to remove the endometriomas and to cauterize smaller spots of endometriosis. If you don't want to have children, you can have a hysterectomy to remove both ovaries along with the uterus and any endometriomas that are found.

Mild disease can be treated with relaxation strategies and exercise along with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication to control pain. Prescription painkillers can relieve the pain and cramping of endometriosis.

Medications can create a pseudopregnancy so that there is no bleeding and no buildup of endometrial tissue. This is done by using oral contraceptives which contain progesterone and estrogen. The pill is taken continuously for at least six to nine months and then it is stopped to allow for a period. It relieves most of the symptoms of endometriosis.

Progesterone injections are other hormonal ways to control endometriosis. Other medications include Lupron Depo and Synarel, which are gonadotropin agonists that help some women with endometriosis. Surgery can be done to remove endometriomas so that a woman can have a healthy pregnancy in the future.