Endometriosis represents one of the most common gynecological diseases, affecting between 5 and 10% of women of reproductive age. A condition in which scar endometrial tissue (similar to the lining of the uterus) is found outside the uterus, most often in other organs in the pelvic area, causing chronic inflammation and adhesions that can lead to a variety of symptoms, the most serious of which are severe pain and infertility.
Most often endometriosis occurs in the tubes, ovaries, outside the uterus, but it can spread, although less often, to the intestines, bladder, even outside the abdominal cavity.
It is true that the disease is serious and causes problems and discomfort, but it should be known that it is controlled quite successfully and not every endometriosis leads to a problem with conception. The important thing is to know its symptoms, to make the diagnosis in time and to conduct adequate treatment by a specialist.
Symptoms and signs of endometriosis
Symptoms are strictly individual and entirely depend on the sites on which the lesions with endometrial cells spread. However, the most common and most certainly associated with endometriosis are the following symptoms and signs:
- long menstruation (over 7 days) or irregular periods
- strong current
- bowel and urinary tract problems, including pain when urinating, frequent urge to urinate, diarrhoea or constipation
- nausea or vomiting
- pain during sexual intercourse
- infertility
- after a longer time, adhesions of the affected organs can develop, leading to more symptoms, including pain with certain movements and postures
Many women with endometriosis also suffer from allergies and infections, fibromyalgia, cystitis, adenomyosis, thyroid disease, Crohn's disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. In addition to multiple strong and serious symptoms, endometriosis can also develop without symptoms. In such cases, it is detected during surgery for something else or only after a cyst has formed.
Diagnosis of endometriosis
There are many sonographic markers that help to detect the typical feature of endometriosis when it is located in the ovaries. Ultrasound can help when the foci are located in the bladder as well as in the rectovaginal space.
The "hidden places" in which it develops are a prerequisite for not being diagnosed for years.
If the symptoms are serious and endometriosis is suspected, laparoscopic examination and sampling (biopsy) is performed, after which the diagnosis is confirmed by pathological examination of the sampled material. During laparoscopy, the severity of the disease can be assessed by the distribution and localization of endometrial lesions, as well as the involvement of individual organs.
How does endometriosis prevent pregnancy?
Unfortunately, as it grows, endometriosis can disrupt ovarian function or damage the fallopian tubes and therefore lead to infertility, as well as impeding the movement of the egg from the ovaries to the uterus. In fact, the diagnosis is often made in the course of searching for the cause of the inability to become pregnant.
Treatment of endometriosis
The treatment of endometriosis is surgical, medical or combined. Natural treatment pathways are pregnancy and menopause. Due to the characteristic hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy and menopause, these conditions can also be considered a kind of "treatment" accompanied by the resolution of symptoms. If the patient manages to become pregnant, the problems associated with the disease will be over for a long period. Endometriosis is not always affected by medical treatment; it does not always allow pregnancy to occur naturally, which makes it necessary to resort to in vitro procedures.
Despite everything said so far when we talk about such diseases it is more important to follow the individual case. Most often, drug treatment is limited to taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, this will not help in severe cases of endometriosis - then surgical treatment is recommended. It all depends on the type of endometriosis, its location, size and symptoms of the patient. Whether the woman has given birth or has a desire to become pregnant is also essential.
Changing diet and avoiding certain foods that exacerbate problems is proving most effective in controlling symptoms for the time being. Following an anti-inflammatory diet is strictly individual and may take time to find the right one for you.
For more information, we at Medical Karaj are at your service.
Call us on the following numbers "Medical Karaj": 0879 977 401 or 0879 977 402.
Also keep an eye on our constantly updated Facebook content.
