The Endometrium
There is a type of tissue that is found in the inner lining of the uterus that is called the endometrium. There are times when this tissue will develop outside of the uterus, this is known as endometriosis.
The average menstrual cycle for a woman is 28 days, and during those twenty eight days the inner lining of the uterus goes through a few changes. In order to prepare for pregnancy, the endometrium thickens as it develops. Should there not be a pregnancy; the tissue is then shed via bleeding. This bleeding is caused by the hormones progesterone and estrogen and it happened monthly.
Endometriosis
Even when the endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus it still looks and behaves as it would inside the uterus. Other areas that the endometrial tissue may grow in include:
Fallopian Tubes
Rectus
Ovaries and surrounding tissue
Outer surface of the uterus
Bladder and ureters
Intestines
The cul-de-sac
Lines inside of the abdomen and pelvis
Pelvis and abdomen
There are rare cases when the tissue will develop in unlikely areas in the body. When the endometrial tissue grows in the ovaries it can cause cysts – when this happens it is known as endometrioma.
The menstrual cycle impacts the endometrial tissue regardless of where it is growing, still affected by estrogen and progesterone. The reaction is still the same, monthly bleeding. When this bleeding takes place outside of the uterus is can lead to scar tissue, also known as adhesions. These adhesions can cause pain and discomfort. The scar tissue can also bind organs together. If the endometriosis is left untreated it can get worse.
Causes
Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear cause of endometriosis. There are a couple of theories, during the menstrual period, there is a small amount of blood cells that flow from the fallopian tubes into the abdomen. If a woman has endometriosis, these blood cells stick to the pathway and start to develop there instead of flowing out as they should. There is another theory that endometrial cells are carried to other areas of the body by the lymph and the blood vessels.
What Women Are At Risk
The majority of women that are dealing with endometriosis are between the ages of 30 and 40. This doesn’t mean that women of other ages are not affected. Endometriosis can affect anyone female that menstruates. Those that menstruate but do not procreate are commonly affected by this condition. Family history may also play a role in whether a woman suffers from endometriosis. It has been noted that women who have a sister, mother or daughter with endometriosis increases the likelihood that she will have endometriosis. It has also been found that 75% of all women suffering from chronic pelvic pain also have endometriosis.
Symptoms
Inability to conceive
Chronic pelvic pain
Frequent menstrual bleeding more than every month
Pain during bowel movements, during sex, just prior to or during menstruation, or during urination.
These symptoms are signs of endometriosis, but they are also indicative of other underlying health conditions. If you notice any of these symptoms it is important that you talk to your Houston Gynecologist.
Note the severity of the condition is not necessarily one and the same with the level of pain felt. The pain can be mild to moderate and the severity of the condition can be quite severe. Conversely, the pain can be intense and the severity of the condition very mild. There may be no pain felt at all, unfortunately this makes it difficult for a woman to know she has a condition that requires medical attention. The only way she finds out is that she attempts to get pregnant. One third of all infertile women also have endometriosis.
Diagnosis
If you notice any symptoms of endometriosis it is important that you contact your Houston Gynecologist. They will do a physical exam, including a pelvic exam. If all other causes of pelvic pain are ruled out, treatment of your endometriosis can be done without further surgery or examinations.
Endometriosis can be severe, moderate or mild. The best way to determine the severity if the case is via laparoscopy procedure. This will allow the doctor to look inside the body. Should they find any endometrial tissue upon exam they may opt to remove the tissue right away. This is all done under general anesthesia.
Treatment
The severity of your endometriosis will dictate the type of treatment you receive. The type of treatment is also impacted by whether or not you will want to have babies in the future. Generally speaking medications or surgery or a combination of both are used. While the treatment may alleviate the pain or the infertility, it is possible for these symptoms to reoccur.
Looking to find the best Houston Gynecologist, then visit www.greaterhoustongyn.com to find the best advice on endometriosis for you.