Healthy Her - Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue that is similar to the lining of your uterus grows on other parts of your body. When this tissue grows in the wrong places, it can cause painful symptoms that can impact not only your menstrual cycle but also your daily life. Globally, endometriosis affects an estimated 10% (190 million) of reproductive age women from the onset of their first period through menopause.

Where does endometriosis occur?

Endometriosis most commonly occurs in the pelvis, but in some women, this tissue can grow elsewhere in the body, including the abdomen and chest.

Some of the most common places you can develop endometriosis include:

• Space behind your uterus
• Myometrium (a layer of your uterine wall)
• Ovaries
• Peritoneum
• Fallopian tubes

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms vary widely. Endometriosis symptoms typically include:

• Very painful menstrual cramps
• Abdominal pain or back pain during your period or in between periods
• Heavy bleeding during periods or spotting (light bleeding) between periods
• Pain during sex
• Infertility
• Pain when pooping or peeing
• Stomach problems like diarrhea, constipation, or bloating

Endometriosis pain often worsens just before and during menstrual periods due to inflammation brought on by the hormonal changes that occur at that time. Women can also have no symptoms of endometriosis. Some women do not discover they have endometriosis until they’re unable to get pregnant.

Diagnosing endometriosis

Since the symptoms of endometriosis vary and are broad, it is not easily diagnosed. In many cases, an endometriosis diagnosis will start with painful and heavy periods, at which time you should contact a healthcare provider.

The only definitive diagnosis for endometriosis requires a laparoscopy. This procedure involves your healthcare provider using a small camera (laparoscope) to look inside your pelvis. Once they locate the tissue, they will remove a sample of tissue (biopsy) and send it to a lab for testing. The surgeon will also try to remove or destroy all tissue that they suspect as endometriosis. In this way, a laparoscopy helps with diagnosis and treatment.

Treating endometriosis

There are no existing treatments that cure the disease. Instead, treatments are based on severity of symptoms, individual preferences, side effects, long-term safety, costs and availability, and whether pregnancy is desired. Treatment typically revolves around managing symptoms. Medications can help manage the symptoms of endometriosis.

• Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can be helpful with pain.
• Hormonal therapies like birth control can help with pain and with suppressing your menstrual cycle. But it’s important to know that stopping hormonal therapies can cause the symptoms to come back.

Surgery for endometriosis can be an effective way to relieve pain and, in some cases, improve your fertility. However, endometriosis is a chronic disease. Many people experience relief from endometriosis pain after surgery, but the symptoms may return within a few years if new tissue grows. The severity of your endometriosis could play a part in how quickly, if at all, it comes back after surgery. Your provider might suggest combining a surgical procedure with medications for the best outcome.

According to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, “It takes an average of 10 years from symptom onset to receive an accurate diagnosis of endometriosis in the U.S. This is due to a lack of knowledge among the general public and the medical community. Unfortunately, many endometriosis patients are misdiagnosed, often multiple times, leading to unnecessary and inappropriate treatment. This is why it is crucial to spread further awareness of the disease and support research and funding.”

To learn more about endometriosis, check out the educational resources at https://www.endofound.org/endometriosis.