Image: Shutterstock
One in ten women are thought to be affected by endometriosis which is a condition in which tissue that ordinarily resides in the uterus but is present elsewhere. The term "endometrium" refers to the uterus' inner lining. Cells similar to those often seen in the endometrium grow outside of the uterus in them, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, intestines, and the regions in front, behind, and to the sides of the uterus. The exact cause of endometriosis is not yet fully understood, but it is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Dr. Geetha S, Consultant - Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Kauvery Hospitals, Electronic City, Bengaluru clarifies some of the queries associated with endometriosis.
What Causes Endometriosis?
The exact cause of endometriosis is not known but it is hormone dependent. Just like the endometrium which responds to hormonal changes resulting in a period, the endometrial-like tissue located outside the womb also bleeds which can cause pain, inflammation and scarring, and can possibly damage the pelvic organs.
Endometriosis May Be Found:
· On the ovaries, where it can form cysts (often referred to as endometriomas or ‘chocolate cysts’)
· In the peritoneum (the lining of the pelvis and abdomen)
· In or on the Fallopian tubes
· On, behind or around the womb
· In the area between the vagina and the rectum.
Adenomyosis, another name for endometriosis, is a condition that sometimes affects the intestine and/or bladder as well as the muscle wall of the womb. Other body parts may occasionally have it, but this is uncommon.
Image: Shutterstock
Risk Factors For Endometriosis
There are a few factors that may increase the risk of developing the condition. These include:
· Family History: Women with endometriosis in the family, are more likely to develop it themselves.
· Never Conceived: Because pregnancy will sometimes reduce the symptoms of endometriosis, women who have never been pregnant are at a higher risk.
· Retrograde Menstruation: This occurs when monthly discharge that would normally leave the body through the vagina flows backward into the fallopian tubes. Nearly all women experience a small degree of retrograde menstruation, yet only about 10 percent will develop endometriosis. In these cases, small pieces of endometrial tissue may grow inside the abdominal cavity.
Symptoms Of Endometriosis
· Pelvic pain
· Painful, sometimes irregular or heavy periods. Pain during or after sex
· Fertility problems.
· Pain related to bowels, bladder, lower back or the tops of legs Long-term fatigue.
· Some women do not have any symptoms.
Pain from endometriosis may follow a predictable pattern, getting worse before and during periods. While some women endure discomfort constantly, others may only sometimes do so. When they get pregnant, the pain may become better and may go away on its own.
Endometriosis frequently results in pain that is significantly worse than what one would anticipate during a typical menstrual cycle, but even when there is no discomfort, the disorder can still damage organs and cause internal scarring and infertility. Young women frequently disregard or minimise the condition as "typical" period cramps. Endometriosis frequently causes pain that worsens over time and changes with the menstrual cycle.
Why Is Diagnosis Important?
Endometriosis progresses over time. Early detection allows us to prevent it from spreading and developing scars and adhesions. This is crucial because once scarring has started, hormonal therapies and even surgery might not be effective.
Long delays in diagnosis and treatment are a common occurrence. A 2019 study found that it takes an average of 8 years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. As the illness worsens, this frequently makes things worse.
One in ten women are thought to be affected by endometriosis which is a condition in which tissue that ordinarily resides in the uterus but is present elsewhere. The term "endometrium" refers to the uterus' inner lining. Cells similar to those often seen in the endometrium grow outside of the uterus in them, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, intestines, and the regions in front, behind, and to the sides of the uterus. The exact cause of endometriosis is not yet fully understood, but it is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Dr. Geetha S, Consultant - Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Kauvery Hospitals, Electronic City, Bengaluru clarifies some of the queries associated with endometriosis.
What Causes Endometriosis?
The exact cause of endometriosis is not known but it is hormone dependent. Just like the endometrium which responds to hormonal changes resulting in a period, the endometrial-like tissue located outside the womb also bleeds which can cause pain, inflammation and scarring, and can possibly damage the pelvic organs.
Endometriosis May Be Found:
· On the ovaries, where it can form cysts (often referred to as endometriomas or ‘chocolate cysts’)
· In the peritoneum (the lining of the pelvis and abdomen)
· In or on the Fallopian tubes
· On, behind or around the womb
· In the area between the vagina and the rectum.
Adenomyosis, another name for endometriosis, is a condition that sometimes affects the intestine and/or bladder as well as the muscle wall of the womb. Other body parts may occasionally have it, but this is uncommon.
Risk Factors For Endometriosis
There are a few factors that may increase the risk of developing the condition. These include:
· Family History: Women with endometriosis in the family, are more likely to develop it themselves.
· Never Conceived: Because pregnancy will sometimes reduce the symptoms of endometriosis, women who have never been pregnant are at a higher risk.
· Retrograde Menstruation: This occurs when monthly discharge that would normally leave the body through the vagina flows backward into the fallopian tubes. Nearly all women experience a small degree of retrograde menstruation, yet only about 10 percent will develop endometriosis. In these cases, small pieces of endometrial tissue may grow inside the abdominal cavity.
Symptoms Of Endometriosis
· Pelvic pain
· Painful, sometimes irregular or heavy periods. Pain during or after sex
· Fertility problems.
· Pain related to bowels, bladder, lower back or the tops of legs Long-term fatigue.
· Some women do not have any symptoms.
Pain from endometriosis may follow a predictable pattern, getting worse before and during periods. While some women endure discomfort constantly, others may only sometimes do so. When they get pregnant, the pain may become better and may go away on its own.
Endometriosis frequently results in pain that is significantly worse than what one would anticipate during a typical menstrual cycle, but even when there is no discomfort, the disorder can still damage organs and cause internal scarring and infertility. Young women frequently disregard or minimise the condition as "typical" period cramps. Endometriosis frequently causes pain that worsens over time and changes with the menstrual cycle.
Why Is Diagnosis Important?
Endometriosis progresses over time. Early detection allows us to prevent it from spreading and developing scars and adhesions. This is crucial because once scarring has started, hormonal therapies and even surgery might not be effective.
Long delays in diagnosis and treatment are a common occurrence. A 2019 study found that it takes an average of 8 years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. As the illness worsens, this frequently makes things worse.
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