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Medically reviewed by Robyn Faye, M.D.
March is Endometriosis Consciousness Month.
Endometriosis is a painful situation that impacts greater than 11% of women ages 15-44. HealthyWomen reached out to Robyn Faye, M.D., an OB-GYN with the Abington Main Ladies’s Healthcare Group and member of HealthyWomen’s Women’s Health Advisory Council, to get the essential info.
What’s endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a pelvic ache situation that happens when tissue much like the tissue that traces the uterus, often known as endometrial tissue, turns into implanted outdoors the uterus and creates growths often known as endometrial implants. The commonest location of endometriosis is the ovaries, however it will also be discovered anyplace within the physique, together with on the fallopian tubes, behind the uterus, on the bowels or bladder, and within the peritoneum, uterosacral ligaments and rectouterine pouch (often known as rectovaginal endometriosis). A small percentage of endometriosis instances have an effect on the appendix.
What are the signs?
Signs could embody continual ache; diminished fertility; irregular intervals; painful menstrual cramps, often known as dysmenorrhea, and painful intercourse.
You might also expertise fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating or nausea, particularly throughout menstrual intervals.
How is endometriosis recognized?
Endometriosis shares signs with many different situations, so it will possibly take some time to get a prognosis. In reality, it typically takes 7-12 years from the onset of signs to a prognosis. Most often, signs finally result in a prognosis, however round 20%-25% of women may be asymptomatic and are solely recognized throughout a pelvic examination or ultrasound. Typically a prognosis is made upon sight throughout a cesarean part, and a definitive prognosis might be made with a laparoscopy, a process the place a surgeon makes use of a small scope to search for endometrial tissue outdoors the uterus or on the uterus and different pelvic organs.
What are the danger elements for endometriosis?
Should you began your interval earlier than age 11, have a menstrual cycle that is shorter than 27 days or a heavy menstrual circulate that’s longer than per week, you might be at higher risk for endometriosis. Moreover, there’s some evidence that exhibits girls are at higher threat of creating the situation if a detailed member of the family (mom, sister, aunt or cousin) has it. Moreover, analysis suggests that ladies with endometriosis usually tend to have a top higher than 68 inches and to have a decrease BMI.
What are the remedy choices for endometriosis?
The primary line of remedy is painkillers, akin to acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDS), and hormonal contraception or progestin alone. Subsequent comes long-term hormone therapy, which may scale back ache and gradual the expansion of endometrial implants. Surgery will also be carried out to take away endometrial implants, which may scale back ache, however the implants can develop again. Laparoscopic surgical procedure is taken into account the gold standard in the case of surgical remedy for endometriosis.
Different surgical procedures embody slicing pelvic nerves to scale back ache. If endometriosis worsens, an oophorectomy — a process that removes the ovaries — or a hysterectomy could also be carried out: Each procedures have additionally been proven to reduce or remove ache related to endometriosis.
What different well being situations are associated to endometriosis or can develop on account of endometriosis?
Related situations embody:
- fibromyalgia
- interstitial cystitis, a continual bladder situation
- TMJ, a situation that causes the jaw to lock
- inflammatory bowel illness
- migraine
Endometriosis may additionally be related to an elevated threat of getting sure cancers, together with:
- ovarian most cancers
- endometrial most cancers, a sort of most cancers that begins within the uterus
- non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a most cancers that begins within the physique’s lymphatic system
- melanoma, a sort of pores and skin most cancers
How can endometriosis have an effect on a lady’s fertility?
Some girls with endometriosis can conceive and carry a child to time period. In reality, generally endometriosis is recognized visually throughout a cesarean part. In different instances, the tissue discovered outdoors the uterus, often known as endometrial implants, causes irritation, which may trigger infertility or fertility problems. When implants attach to the fallopian tubes, they will result in a delayed egg launch and have an effect on the physique’s capability to switch sperm to the launched egg. In girls with endometriosis-associated infertility, laparoscopic surgical procedure and in vitro fertilization (IVF) can result in improved pregnancy rates.
How can girls enhance their endometriosis signs?
Oral contraceptives can scale back the ache of endometriosis and stop the endometrial cells from shedding and inflicting irritation, limiting the expansion of endometrial implants.
What are some various therapies or life-style modifications girls could make to assist relieve signs of endometriosis?
The Nationwide Institutes of Well being does not listing any various therapies for endometriosis, however a 2018 examine confirmed that acupuncture, yoga, exercise and electrotherapy could assist relieve endometriosis-related ache.
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