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Endometriosis is a painful condition where the endometrium grows outside the uterus, causing lesions and internal bleeding. Symptoms include painful periods, tender abdomen, and infertility. Treatment options include pain relievers, hormone therapy, and surgery.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects millions of women and girls around the world. It is a painful condition in which the endometrium, the tissue that lines the uterus, sticks to areas outside the uterus creating lesions.
Lesions can form in many areas of the body, but some of the most common growths occur outside the uterus as well as on the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Other areas include the support structures of the uterus, the lining of the pelvic cavity, the cervix, the vaginal cavity and the bladder. While lesions can also affect the outer folds of the vagina and the perineum — the dense area of muscle and tissue between the vagina and the rectum — growths at these sites are less common.
Endometriosis causes moderate to severe pain, due to the fact that the lesions are essentially sites of internal bleeding. These areas react to hormonal changes directly associated with a woman’s monthly cycle.
In much the same way that the lining of the uterus ruptures every month, endometrial lesions also rupture. The difference is that when the uterus sheds its lining, blood and tissue can be flushed out of the body through the vagina. On the other hand, there is no outlet for the tissue and blood shed from the endometrial growths.
These injuries not only cause pain, but they can also cause cysts and scar tissue to develop, which can affect fertility.
Symptoms can include heavier and more painful periods, spotting between periods, and tenderness in the abdomen during ovulation. Many women also experience painful urination and bowel movements during menstruation or pain during intercourse. Some suffer from an inability to fight off infections and others develop allergies. These discomforts are often accompanied by tiredness and irritability. The cause is unknown, but studies indicate the disease may be genetic.
Treatment options for endometriosis are designed to meet the specific needs of the patient. Options include pain relievers, both over-the-counter preparations and prescription medicines. Hormone therapy is also often prescribed, usually in the form of a modified birth control pill regimen. Minor surgery in which layers of lesions are removed can improve the condition. In some cases, major surgery, including hysterectomy, is required; hysterectomy, however, may not be able to completely eradicate endometriosis, as lesions can develop in other areas of the body.
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