Endometriosis is a condition that can prevent pregnancy in a
woman. It is a disease that is fairly common and can afflict
women from their first menstrual cycle through menopause. In
rarer cases, endometriosis can affect post-menopausal women as
well. Currently, there is no cure for endometriosis. As well,
general practitioners often have a difficult time diagnosing
endometriosis.
Endometriosis occurs when the endometrium, or uterine lining,
grows outside of the uterus. It may grow in areas such as around
the ovaries, in the pelvic cavity, sometimes even the bowels or
in the bladder. Although very rare, the endometrium can also
grow in the lung area.
As the condition progresses, the growths develop into "tumors"
or "implants." While the reference to tumors can be unnerving,
endometrium growths are not cancerous or malignant. However, the
condition can be severely painful, cause heavy menstruation, and
can prevent pregnancy in some cases.
Endometriosis symptoms include pain that is localized in the
pelvic, abdominal, or lower back areas. The severity of the pain
does not directly correlate with the amount of endometriosis
present in these areas. One can have a small amount of
endometriosis growth and feel severe pain. Conversely, one can
have a large area of endometriosis growth and feel no pain.
Women who have pain in these areas might want to consult with
their gynecologist. Gynecologists are specially trained to
diagnose endometriosis. An MRI or ultrasound should be able to
detect endometriosis, but it is not always the best way. A
definitive diagnostic procedure is a laparoscopy. A laparoscopy
is a surgical procedure that involves inserting a tube with an
attached light into the abdomen. This procedure will determine
the location, size, and extent of the condition. Once
endometriosis is detected, treatment options are discussed with
the gynecologist, which includes medication, hormone treatments,
and surgery.
