Endometriosis is a women’s health disorder in which tissue similar to the endometrium, the lining of your uterus, grows outside your uterine cavity. The tissue can grow on your ovaries, bowel, fallopian tubes, the outside of the uterus, and other organs within the pelvic region, causing pain and other uncomfortable symptoms.
While it’s rare for the tissue, called an endometrial implant, to spread beyond your pelvic region, it's not impossible.
Our team of experienced physicians at Women's Health Specialists, PLLC in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, understand how uncomfortable endometriosis can be. That’s why they offer a number of treatment options, from conservative measures to surgical procedures.
As not every woman knows the symptoms of endometriosis, the team weighs in on the topic in this month’s blog, so you’ll know when to seek medical help.
Endometriosis is a common women's health problem. Doctors believe at least 11% (more than 6.5 million) of women in the United States have endometriosis. However, that doesn’t mean that they know the cause.
Researchers are studying a number of potential reasons for the condition:
During each menstrual cycle, many women experience retrograde flow. Instead of leaving the body via the vagina, some of the tissue shed during the period flows back through the fallopian tubes and into other areas of the body, such as the pelvis. With nowhere to go, it builds up and causes painful symptoms.
Endometriosis tends to run in families, so there may be an inheritance factor.
If there’s a fault in the immune system, it may fail to locate and destroy endometrial tissue growing outside of the uterus. The theory is plausible, as immune system disorders and certain types of cancer are more common in women with endometriosis.
Estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, appears to promote endometriosis. It’s certainly responsible for the inflammation of extrauterine tissue during the menstrual cycle. Ongoing research is looking into a possible connection.
Endometriosis growths aren’t cancerous, but they still cause a number of problems and problematic symptoms, some of which may surprise you.
Because the tissue responds to estrogen, endometrial implants may swell and bleed in the same way as the uterine lining does every month during your period. The problem is, as the tissue breaks down at the end of the cycle, it has no easy way to exit the body, so it remains in the pelvis, causing problems such as:
The most common symptom of endometriosis is pain. This includes painful menstrual cramps, chronic lower back and pelvic pain, a “deep” pain during or after sex, and pain in other organs.
You may also experience bleeding or spotting between periods, and infertility, often due to blocked ovaries and/or adhesions.
More surprising symptoms include:
While not as surprising, infertility can be one of the more serious and difficult symptoms, as endometriosis tends to occur more often in women 30-40 years old who are trying to build their families.
Women who have milder forms of endometriosis may be able to conceive and carry a baby to term. For others, though medications exist to treat endometriosis, they don’t improve your fertility.
Some women have been able to conceive after having the errant tissue surgically removed, but if this doesn’t work, you may want to consider fertility treatments or in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help improve your chances of getting pregnant.
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. If you’re experiencing symptoms, it’s time to come into Women’s Health Specialists PLLC for an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Call our office at 615-907-2040, or book your appointment online with us today.
