What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is the growth of tissue outside the cervix that's almost like the tissue that creates up the liner of the uterus. The liner of your uterus is named the endometrium.
This occurs when endometrial tissue grows in your ovaries, intestines, and tissues. it's uncommon for endometrial tissue to increase beyond the pelvic area, but it's not impossible. The endometrial tissue that grows outside your uterus is named an endometrial implant.
Hormonal changes in your cycle can affect the endometrial tissue that has been lost, making this area swollen and painful. this suggests that the tissue grows, thickens, and breaks down. Over time, the torn tissue will go nowhere and obtain stuck within the pelvis.
This trapped tissue in your pelvis can cause:
- Irritation
- Scar formation
- Synthesis, during which the tissue connects to the pelvic organs
- Severe pain in your periods.
- Reproductive problems
This may be a common gynecological condition that affects approximately 10 percent of girls. And it also leads to infertility problems. If you've got this disorder, you're not alone. And seek immediate medical treatment by consulting a infertility specialist.
Causes of endometriosis
No one is certain what caused this disease. Researchers are studying the possible causes:
Problems with the menstrual flow: Retrograde flow is the explanation for endometriosis. During this era, several tissue shedding flows through the Fallopian tube to other parts of the body, like the pelvis.
Genetic factors: Since endometriosis is hereditary, it is often inherited within the genes.
Immune system problems: A faulty system might not detect and destroy the endometrial tissue that grows outside the uterus. system disorders and a few cancers are more common in women with endometriosis.
Hormones: A hormone called estrogen promotes endometriosis. Research is watching whether endometriosis may be a problem with the body's hormonal system.
Surgery: During surgery, endometrial tissue could also be removed and mistakenly moved to the abdominal area, like a cesarean delivery (cesarean section) or cervical surgery. for instance, endometrial tissue is found in abdominal scars.
Risk factors for endometriosis
Endometriosis is the tissue that sometimes forms inside the uterus and grows in other parts of the body, usually within the pelvic area.
Some people with this painful disorder have extreme pain and a decreased quality of life, while others haven't any symptoms.
This disorder affects quite 11% of girls in us between the ages of 15 and 44 who have a miscarriage. It can happen to any girl who has started her period and there are risk factors that increase the probability of developing this condition.
Family history: If someone in your family has endometriosis, the danger of developing it's 7 to 10 times above those without a case history. Endometriosis in immediate relations, like your mother, grandmother, or sister, puts you at higher risk for developing this condition. If you've got distant relatives as cousins, this may also increase your chances of diagnosis. Endometriosis is transmitted by maternity and paternity.
Structural cycle characteristics: The more exposed you're to structural menstruation, the more likely you're to develop endometriosis. Factors that expose its structure and increase its risk:
- Have a reliable source for 27 days or less between each period
- Start your playing period before age 12
- Each month you experience periods of seven days or more
Pregnancy, regardless of what percentage of times you shorten the duration, reduces your risk. If you've got endometriosis and are ready to get pregnant, your symptoms may get away during pregnancy. it's common for symptoms to return after the birth of your baby.
Conditions that interfere with the traditional flow of structures: One of the theories of causality related to endometriosis is a retrograde flow or reversible flow. If you've got a medical condition that increases, prevent, or diverts your structure flow, it's going to be a risk factor.
Conditions resulting in regression flow:
- Increased estrogen production
- Such as uterine growths, fibroids, or polyps
- Structural abnormality of your uterus, cervix, or vagina
- Obstructions within the cervix or vagina
- Asynchronous uterine contractions
Immune system disorders: System defects contribute to the danger of endometriosis. If your system is weak, it's less likely to detect misplaced endometrial tissue. Scattered endometrial tissue is allowed to implant in the wrong places. this will cause problems like bruising, inflammation, and scarring.
Abdominal surgery: Sometimes abdominal surgery, like cesarean delivery (commonly called a cesarean section) or cervical surgery, can misalign the endometrial tissue.
If this faulty tissue isn't destroyed by your system, it can cause this disorder. Review your surgical history together with your doctor when discussing your endometriosis symptoms.
Age: Endometriosis involves the cells that line the cervix, so any woman or girl will develop this condition until the menstrual period. However, endometriosis is more likely to be diagnosed in women in their 20s and 30s.
Experts say that it's the age at which individuals attempt to conceive, and for a few, infertility may be a major symptom of endometriosis. Women who don't have severe pain related to Stru menstruation might not be ready to evaluate their doctor until they're trying to conceive.
Symptoms of endometriosis
The cramps that come on during your period are often severe. If you've got endometriosis, the pain is often so severe that it affects your daily routine. this may prevent you from doing certain things that you simply like.
Endometriosis means in your uterus, equivalent sorts of cells that structure the liner of the endometrium grow outside of it and fasten to other parts of your body. the primary step is knowing the way to help.
Common symptoms:
Some women call endometriosis pain "killer cramps" because it is often so severe that it stops you in your tracks. For many, it'll only worsen as they grow old.
Other symptoms include:
- Pain when urinating or pooping
- Allergies that aggravate your period
- Vaginal bleeding between periods
- Blood within the urine or rectum
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Swelling
- Difficulty conceiving
- Very long or heavy periods
- Severe cramps
- Severe migraines or low back pain during your period
Endometriosis pain: Endometriosis can cause pain in additional than one area of your body, including:
Pelvic or abdominal pain: It can start before your period and last for several days. It can feel sharp and stinging, and medications usually don't help.
Some women seem to sink inside. they need the sensation of getting been beaten or beaten severely.
Back pain: Your uterus and ovaries are on your back. Abdominal pain will hunch you over.
Toe pain: Endometriosis affects the nerves that connect the groin, hips, and legs. This makes walking difficult. you'll get to limp or rest frequently.
Painful sex: Most girls with endometriosis experience pain during sex or after 2 days. For some, it seems like a stab or sharp. Others describe it as pain within the pelvic area.
Painful bowel movements counting on the affected area can cause yeast infections.
Endometriosis and infertility: Endometriosis makes it difficult to urge pregnant. this will happen if the growing tissue outside the uterus causes scarring, which affects the fallopian tubes and prevents the egg and sperm from joining. It also can prevent the embryo from implanting into the liner of the uterus.
Surgery can remove excess tissue, making conception easier. Otherwise, you can try assisted reproductive technology (such as in-vitro fertilization) to assist you to conceive.
Diagnosis of endometriosis
To diagnose endometriosis and other conditions that cause pelvic pain, ask your doctor to explain your symptoms, the situation of your pain, and when it occurs.
Endometriosis physical evidence test:
Pelvic exam: During a pelvic exam, your doctor will manually examine areas of your pelvis for abnormalities like cysts within the reproductive organs or scars behind the uterus. Small areas of endometriosis are often not felt except causing cysts to make.
Ultrasound: This test uses high-frequency sound waves to make images inside your body. To capture images, a tool called a transducer is inserted into the vagina (transvaginal ultrasound) when it's pressed against the abdomen. Two sorts of ultrasound are often done to urge the simplest view of the reproductive organs. a typical ultrasound imaging test might not tell your doctor exactly if you've got endometriosis, but it can detect cysts related to endometriosis.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI may be a test that uses a magnetic flux and radio waves to make detailed images of your body's organs and tissues. For some, MRI can help with a surgical plan, giving your surgeon detailed information about the situation and the size of endometrial implants.
Laparoscopy: In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a surgeon for a procedure that permits the surgeon to ascertain inside your abdomen (laparoscopy). Once you are under general anesthesia, your surgeon will make a little incision near your belly button and insert a skinny viewing device (laparoscope) to seem for signs of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus.
Laparoscopy provides information on the situation, scope, and size of endometrial implants. Your surgeon may take a tissue sample (biopsy) for a more detailed examination. Oftentimes, with the right surgical plan, your surgeon can fully treat endometriosis during laparoscopy, so you simply need one surgery.
Treatment for endometriosis
Surgery is feasible but is usually considered as long as other treatments aren't effective.
Other options:
Pain relievers: Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.) or prescribed drugs to treat painful periods.
Hormones: Contraception pills, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GN-RH) agonists, and antagonists are often treated with hormonal treatments like medroxyprogesterone (depo-provera) or danazol. Uterine device (IUD) placement can also be recommended.
Surgery: Early surgery attempts to get rid of areas of endometriosis, but may require cervical surgery to get rid of both ovaries.
Fertility treatment: Pregnancy by in vitro fertilization (IVF) could also be recommended.
Maintain functions at home: Complementary and alternative therapies can include acupuncture, chiropractic, and herbal medicine, but there's little evidence that they're effective.
Preventing caffeine can help reduce pain because caffeine can exacerbate symptoms.
Exercise, like walking, reduces pain and slows disease progression by lowering estrogen levels.
Due to the chronic complications of endometriosis, it's important to observe for symptoms. Excruciating pain or unexpected bleeding should be reported to a physician.
Although there's currently no treatment for endometriosis, most girls can relieve their symptomatic pain and still have children.