Health Check; Endometriosis
Endometriosis happens when the lining of the uterus (womb) grows outside of the uterus. It affects about 5 million American women. Endometriosis is especially common among women in their 30s and 40s. The most common symptom is pain. The pain happens most often during the menstrual period, but it can also happen at other times. Endometriosis may also make it harder to get pregnant. Several different treatment options can help manage the symptoms and improve chances of getting pregnant.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis, sometimes called "endo," is a common health problem in women. It gets its name from the word endometrium, the tissue that normally lines the uterus or womb. Endometriosis happens when this tissue grows outside of the uterus and on other areas in the body, where it doesn't belong. Most often, endometriosis is found on the:
Symptoms
Pain. This is the most common symptom. Women with endometriosis may have many different kinds of pain, such as very painful menstrual cramps. The pain may get worse over time.
Chronic (long-term) pain in the lower back and pelvis.
Pain during or after sex. This is usually described as a "deep" pain and is different from pain felt at the entrance to the vagina when penetration begins.
Intestinal pain
Painful bowel movements or pain when urinating during menstrual periods. In rare cases, there may also be blood in the stool or urine.
Bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods. This can be caused by something other than endometriosis. If it happens often, you should see your doctor.
Infertility, or not being able to get pregnant.
Stomach (digestive) problems. These include diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or nausea, especially during menstrual periods.
Why Does Endometriosis Cause Pain and Health Problems?
Endometriosis growths are benign (not cancerous). But they can still cause problems.
Endometriosis growths bleed in the same way the lining of the uterus does every month — during the menstrual period. This can cause swelling and pain because the tissue grows and bleeds in an area where it cannot easily get out of the body. The growths may also continue to expand and cause problems, such as:
How Common is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a common health problem for women. At least 5 million women in the United States have endometriosis. Many other women probably have endometriosis but don’t have any symptoms.
Who gets endometriosis?
Endometriosis can happen in any girl or woman who has menstrual periods, but it is more common in women in their 30s and 40s.
It's more likely to get endometriosis if:
No one knows for sure what causes this disease. Researchers are studying possible causes such as:
Prevention
Endometriosis can't be prevented, but you can reduce your chances of developing it by lowering the levels of the hormone estrogen in your body. Estrogen helps to thicken the lining of your uterus during your menstrual cycle. To keep lower estrogen levels in your body, you can:
Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of endometriosis, talk with your doctor, who will talk to you about your symptoms and do/or prescribe one or more of the following to find out if you have endometriosis:
Treatment
There is no cure for endometriosis, but treatments are available for the symptoms and problems it causes. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options.
1. Medicine
If you are not trying to get pregnant, hormonal birth control is generally the first step in treatment. This may include:
- Extended-cycle (you have only a few periods a year) or continuous cycle (you have no periods) birth control. These types of hormonal birth control are available in the pill or the shot and help stop bleeding and reduce or eliminate pain.
- Intrauterine device (IUD) to help reduce pain and bleeding. The hormonal IUD protects against pregnancy for up to 7 years. But the hormonal IUD may not help your pain and bleeding due to endometriosis for that long.
Hormonal treatment works only as long as it is taken and is best for women who do not have severe pain or symptoms.
- If you are trying to get pregnant, your doctor may prescribe a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. This medicine stops the body from making the hormones responsible for ovulation, the menstrual cycle, and the growth of endometriosis. This treatment causes a temporary menopause, but it also helps control the growth of endometriosis. Once you stop taking the medicine, your menstrual cycle returns, but you may have a better chance of getting pregnant.
2. Surgery
Surgery is usually chosen for severe symptoms, when hormones are not providing relief, or if you are having fertility problems. During the operation, the surgeon can locate any areas of endometriosis and may remove the endometriosis patches. After surgery, hormone treatment is often restarted unless you are trying to get pregnant.
Other treatments you can try, alone or with any of the treatments listed above, include:
3. Pain medicine
For mild symptoms, your doctor may suggest taking over-the-counter medicines for pain.
4. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies
Some women report relief from pain with therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, herbs like cinnamon twig or licorice root, or supplements, such as thiamine (vitamin B1), magnesium, or omega-3 fatty acids.
Does endometriosis go away after menopause?
For some women, the painful symptoms of endometriosis improve after menopause. As the body stops making the hormone estrogen, the growths shrink slowly. However, some women who take menopausal hormone therapy may still have symptoms of endometriosis. If you are having symptoms of endometriosis after menopause, talk to your doctor about treatment options.
Can I get pregnant if I have endometriosis?
Yes. Many women with endometriosis get pregnant. But, you may find it harder to get pregnant. Endometriosis affects about one-half (50%) of women with infertility. No one knows exactly how endometriosis might cause infertility. Some possible reasons include:
If you have endometriosis and are having trouble getting pregnant, talk to your doctor. (S)He can recommend treatment(s) to remove the endometrial growths.
What other health conditions are linked to endometriosis?
Research shows a link between endometriosis and other health problems in women and their families. Some of these include:
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Chemical sensitivities
- Autoimmune diseases (in which the body’s system that fights illness attacks itself instead. These can include multiple sclerosis, lupus, and some types of hypothyroidism)
- Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
- Certain cancers (such as ovarian and breast cancer).
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis, sometimes called "endo," is a common health problem in women. It gets its name from the word endometrium, the tissue that normally lines the uterus or womb. Endometriosis happens when this tissue grows outside of the uterus and on other areas in the body, where it doesn't belong. Most often, endometriosis is found on the:
- Ovaries
- Fallopian tubes
- Tissues that hold the uterus in place
- Outer surface of the uterus
- The vagina
- Cervix
- Vulva
- Bowel
- Bladder
- Rectum.
Symptoms
Pain. This is the most common symptom. Women with endometriosis may have many different kinds of pain, such as very painful menstrual cramps. The pain may get worse over time.
Chronic (long-term) pain in the lower back and pelvis.
Pain during or after sex. This is usually described as a "deep" pain and is different from pain felt at the entrance to the vagina when penetration begins.
Intestinal pain
Painful bowel movements or pain when urinating during menstrual periods. In rare cases, there may also be blood in the stool or urine.
Bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods. This can be caused by something other than endometriosis. If it happens often, you should see your doctor.
Infertility, or not being able to get pregnant.
Stomach (digestive) problems. These include diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or nausea, especially during menstrual periods.
Why Does Endometriosis Cause Pain and Health Problems?
Endometriosis growths are benign (not cancerous). But they can still cause problems.
Endometriosis growths bleed in the same way the lining of the uterus does every month — during the menstrual period. This can cause swelling and pain because the tissue grows and bleeds in an area where it cannot easily get out of the body. The growths may also continue to expand and cause problems, such as:
- Blocking the fallopian tubes when growths cover or grow into the ovaries. Trapped blood in the ovaries can form cysts.
- Inflammation (swelling).
- Forming scar tissue and adhesions (type of tissue that can bind the organs together). This scar tissue may cause pelvic pain and make it hard to get pregnant.
- Problems in the intestines and bladder
How Common is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a common health problem for women. At least 5 million women in the United States have endometriosis. Many other women probably have endometriosis but don’t have any symptoms.
Who gets endometriosis?
Endometriosis can happen in any girl or woman who has menstrual periods, but it is more common in women in their 30s and 40s.
It's more likely to get endometriosis if:
- You've never had children.
- Your menstrual periods last more than seven days.
- You have short menstrual cycles (27 days or fewer).
- A family member (mother, aunt, sister) has had/has endometriosis.
- You have a health problem that blocks the normal flow of menstrual blood from your body during your period.
No one knows for sure what causes this disease. Researchers are studying possible causes such as:
- Problems with menstrual period flow. Retrograde menstrual flow is the most likely cause of endometriosis. Some of the tissue shed during the period flows through the fallopian tube into other areas of the body, such as the pelvis.
- Genetic factors. Because endometriosis runs in families, it may be inherited in the genes.
- Immune system problems. A faulty immune system may fail to find and destroy endometrial tissue growing outside of the uterus. Immune system disorders and certain cancers are more common in women with endometriosis.
- Hormones. The hormone, estrogen, appears to promote endometriosis. Research is looking at whether endometriosis is a problem with the body's hormone system.
- Surgery. During a surgery to the abdominal area, such as a Cesarean (C-section) or hysterectomy, endometrial tissue could be picked up and moved by mistake. For instance, endometrial tissue has been found in abdominal scars.
Prevention
Endometriosis can't be prevented, but you can reduce your chances of developing it by lowering the levels of the hormone estrogen in your body. Estrogen helps to thicken the lining of your uterus during your menstrual cycle. To keep lower estrogen levels in your body, you can:
- Talk to your doctor about hormonal birth control methods, such as pills, patches or rings with lower doses of estrogen.
- Exercise regularly (more than 4 hours a week). This will also help you keep a low percentage of body fat. Regular exercise and a lower amount of body fat help decrease the amount of estrogen circulating through the body.
- Avoid large amounts of alcohol. Alcohol raises estrogen levels. No more than one drink per day is recommended for women who choose to drink alcohol.
- Avoid large amount of drinks with caffeine. Studies show that drinking more than one caffeinated drink a day, especially sodas and green tea, can raise estrogen levels.
Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of endometriosis, talk with your doctor, who will talk to you about your symptoms and do/or prescribe one or more of the following to find out if you have endometriosis:
- Pelvic exam. During a pelvic exam, your doctor will feel for large cysts or scars behind your uterus. Smaller areas of endometriosis are harder to feel.
- Imaging test. Your doctor may do an ultrasound to check for ovarian cysts from endometriosis. The doctor or technician may insert a wand-shaped scanner into your vagina or move a scanner across your abdomen. Both kinds of ultrasound tests use sound waves to make pictures of your reproductive organs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is another common imaging test that can make a picture of the inside of your body.
- Medicine. If your doctor does not find signs of an ovarian cyst during an ultrasound, he or she may prescribe medicine.
- Laparoscopy. This is a type of surgery that doctors can use to look inside your pelvic area to see endometriosis tissue. Surgery is the only way to be sure you have endometriosis. Sometimes doctors can diagnose endometriosis just by seeing the growths. Other times, they need to take a small sample of tissue and study it under a microscope to confirm this.
Treatment
There is no cure for endometriosis, but treatments are available for the symptoms and problems it causes. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options.
1. Medicine
If you are not trying to get pregnant, hormonal birth control is generally the first step in treatment. This may include:
- Extended-cycle (you have only a few periods a year) or continuous cycle (you have no periods) birth control. These types of hormonal birth control are available in the pill or the shot and help stop bleeding and reduce or eliminate pain.
- Intrauterine device (IUD) to help reduce pain and bleeding. The hormonal IUD protects against pregnancy for up to 7 years. But the hormonal IUD may not help your pain and bleeding due to endometriosis for that long.
Hormonal treatment works only as long as it is taken and is best for women who do not have severe pain or symptoms.
- If you are trying to get pregnant, your doctor may prescribe a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. This medicine stops the body from making the hormones responsible for ovulation, the menstrual cycle, and the growth of endometriosis. This treatment causes a temporary menopause, but it also helps control the growth of endometriosis. Once you stop taking the medicine, your menstrual cycle returns, but you may have a better chance of getting pregnant.
2. Surgery
Surgery is usually chosen for severe symptoms, when hormones are not providing relief, or if you are having fertility problems. During the operation, the surgeon can locate any areas of endometriosis and may remove the endometriosis patches. After surgery, hormone treatment is often restarted unless you are trying to get pregnant.
Other treatments you can try, alone or with any of the treatments listed above, include:
3. Pain medicine
For mild symptoms, your doctor may suggest taking over-the-counter medicines for pain.
4. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies
Some women report relief from pain with therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, herbs like cinnamon twig or licorice root, or supplements, such as thiamine (vitamin B1), magnesium, or omega-3 fatty acids.
Does endometriosis go away after menopause?
For some women, the painful symptoms of endometriosis improve after menopause. As the body stops making the hormone estrogen, the growths shrink slowly. However, some women who take menopausal hormone therapy may still have symptoms of endometriosis. If you are having symptoms of endometriosis after menopause, talk to your doctor about treatment options.
Can I get pregnant if I have endometriosis?
Yes. Many women with endometriosis get pregnant. But, you may find it harder to get pregnant. Endometriosis affects about one-half (50%) of women with infertility. No one knows exactly how endometriosis might cause infertility. Some possible reasons include:
- Patches of endometriosis block off or change the shape of the pelvis and reproductive organs. This can make it harder for the sperm to find the egg.
- The immune system, which normally helps defend the body against disease, attacks the embryo.
- The endometrium (the layer of the uterine lining where implantation happens) does not develop as it should.
If you have endometriosis and are having trouble getting pregnant, talk to your doctor. (S)He can recommend treatment(s) to remove the endometrial growths.
What other health conditions are linked to endometriosis?
Research shows a link between endometriosis and other health problems in women and their families. Some of these include:
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Chemical sensitivities
- Autoimmune diseases (in which the body’s system that fights illness attacks itself instead. These can include multiple sclerosis, lupus, and some types of hypothyroidism)
- Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
- Certain cancers (such as ovarian and breast cancer).
Culled and edited. Images: Google
Comments
Post a Comment