Endometriosis: Causes, Complications, and Treatment
- Endometriosis is a Disorder. It occurs when a tissue similar to the tissue that lines inside a female uterus called endometrium grows outside the uterine cavity.
- It includes ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining your pelvis. It is very rare for endometrial-like tissue to spread beyond the area of the pelvic region. But it is not impossible.
- The hormonal during the menstrual cycle affects the misplaced endometrial tissue resulting in an inflamed and painful area. Thus, tissue develops, thickens, and breaks down.
- Over time, the broken tissues stuck in the area are trapped in the pelvic region, leading to irritation, scar formation, fertility issue, and severe pain during menstruation and adhesions. However, effective treatment is available.
Related Post: – Infertility Treatments for Men and Women
Table of Contents
Causes of Endometriosis
The exact cause of endometriosis is not known. However, there are some possible explanations which include the following: –
Retrograde Menstruation
Retrograde menstruation occurs when menstrual blood containing endometrial cells flows back into the pelvic cavity through the fallopian tube rather than leaving the body via the vagina. These endometrial cells stick to pelvic walls and surfaces of pelvic organs, where they grow and continue to thicken and bleed throughout each menstrual cycle.
Peritoneal cells
Induction theory proses the certain hormone or immune factors that promote the transformation of the peritoneal cell. The cell lines the abdomen’s inner side, leading to endometrial-like cells.
Embryonic Cell Transformation
Hormones like estrogen may inadvertently transform undifferentiated embryonic cells into endometrial cells during puberty. As per the theory, residual embryonic cells in the developing female reproductive tract called Mullerian ducts may persist after birth and be induced into endometriosis under the influence of estrogen.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
The common symptoms of endometriosis are as follows: –
You cannot examine your condition on the basis severity of pain because one can have mild endometriosis with severe pain.
Or advanced endometriosis with little or no discomfort. It is also sometimes mistaken for other conditions that cause pelvic pain, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or ovarian cysts. It can also be confused with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which causes diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal cramping.
Diagnosis for Endometriosis
Based on the symptoms, the doctor can suspect this problem. They can do the following tests to confirm it: –
- Pelvic Exam: – The doctor uses a speculum and light to see the inside of the vagina and cervix. They will manually feel your cysts or scars behind the uterus.
- Ultrasound: – The doctor may perform a transvaginal or abdominal ultrasound to get pictures of the reproductive organ. A transvaginal ultrasound is conducted by inserting a probe into the vaginal canal. They can even do a CT scan or an MRI to get a detailed picture of your organs.
- Laparoscopy: -The doctor makes a small cut in your belly and inserts a thin tube with a camera on the end called a laparoscope. And once the tissue has been identified, it may be removed during the same process.
- Biopsy: –Sometimes doctor takes a sample of tissue, often during a laparoscopy, and a specialist looks at it under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment for Endometriosis
Surgical and medical options are available to decrease the symptoms and deal with potential complications. Since every patient is different and has different conditions and symptoms, they need to talk to the doctor to get the best treatment. The treatment options available are as follows: –
Risk Factors of Endometriosis
Understanding the risk factors can help determine whether you are more likely to develop this condition and when you should visit your doctor.
However, it can still occur in women who have children. This reinforces the understanding that hormones affect the development and progress of the condition.
Conclusion
Endometriosis can affect a woman’s life very badly. A severe cramp, bleeding, and other symptoms during a period are not always normal. You should take it seriously. It would help if you spoke to your doctor because it can result from other conditions, such as endometriosis.
It can even affect the couple’s sexual life. So, it is very important to be open and honest about your pain and symptoms. So that doctor can give the right treatment.