What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a common health
problem in women. It gets its name from the word endometrium, the
tissue that lines the uterus (womb). In women with this problem,
tissue that looks and acts like the lining of the uterus grows
outside of the uterus in other areas. These areas can be called
growths, tumors, implants, lesions, or nodules.
Most endometriosis is found:
- on or under the ovaries
- behind the uterus
- on the tissues that hold the
uterus in place
- on the bowels or bladder
Endometriosis rarely grows in the
lungs or other parts of the body. This "misplaced" tissue can cause
pain, infertility (not being able to get pregnant), and very heavy
periods.
What are the symptoms of
endometriosis?
Pain is one of the most common
symptoms of endometriosis. Usually the pain is in the abdomen, lower
back, and pelvis. The amount of pain a woman feels does not depend
on how much endometriosis she has. Some women have no pain, even
though their disease affects large areas. Other women with
endometriosis have severe pain even though they have only a few
small growths. Symptoms of endometriosis include:
- Very painful menstrual cramps
- Pain with periods that gets worse
over time
- Chronic pain in the lower back and
pelvis
- Pain during or after sex
- Intestinal pain
- Painful bowel movements or painful
urination during menstrual periods
- Heavy and/or long menstrual
periods
- Spotting or bleeding between
periods
- Infertility (not being able to get
pregnant)
- Fatigue
Women with endometriosis may also
have gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, constipation, or
bloating, especially during their periods.
Who usually gets endometriosis?
About five million women in the
United States have endometriosis. This makes it one of the most
common health problems for women.
In general, women with endometriosis:
- get their monthly period
- are 27-years-old on average
- have symptoms for two to five
years before finding out they have the disease
Women who have gone through menopause
(when a woman stops having her period) rarely still have symptoms.
What can raise my chances of getting
endometriosis?
You are more likely to develop
endometriosis if you:
- began getting your period at an
early age
- have heavy periods
- have periods that last more than
seven days
- have a short monthly cycle (27
days or less)
- have a close relative (mother,
aunt, sister) with endometriosis
How can I reduce my chances of
getting endometriosis?
Some studies suggest that you may
lower your chances of developing endometriosis if you:
- exercise regularly
- avoid alcohol and caffeine
Why do patches of endometriosis
cause pain and health problems?
Growths of endometriosis are almost
always benign or not cancerous, but still can cause many problems.
To see why, it helps to understand a woman's monthly cycle. Every
month, hormones cause the lining of a woman's uterus to build up
with tissue and blood vessels. If a woman does not get pregnant, the
uterus sheds this tissue and blood. It comes out of the body through
the vagina as her menstrual period.
Patches of endometriosis also respond
to a woman's monthly cycle. Each month the growths add extra tissue
and blood, but there is no place for the built-up tissue and blood
to exit the body. For this reason, growths tend to get bigger and
the symptoms of endometriosis often get worse over time.
Tissue and blood that is shed into
the body can cause inflammation, scar tissue, and pain. As the
misplaced tissue grows, it can cover or grow into the ovaries and
block the fallopian tubes. This can make it hard for women with
endometriosis to get pregnant. The growths can also cause problems
in the intestines and bladder.
Why is it important to find out if I
have endometriosis?
The pain of endometriosis can
interfere with your life. Studies show that women with endometriosis
often skip school, work, and social events. This health problem can
also get in the way of relationships with your partner, friends,
children, and co-workers. Plus, endometriosis can make it hard for
you to get pregnant.
Finding out that you have
endometriosis is the first step in taking back your life. Many
treatments can control the symptoms. Medicine can relieve your pain.
And when endometriosis causes fertility problems, surgery can boost
your chances of getting pregnant.
How is endometriosis treated?
There is no cure for endometriosis,
but there are many treatments for the pain and infertility that it
causes. Talk with your doctor about what option is best for you. The
treatment you choose will depend on your symptoms, age, and plans
for getting pregnant. |
