Endometriosis is a disorder that occurs in about 10 percent of women who are of reproductive age. This condition can be painful and even worsen over time for those who have it.
Understanding the complexity of endometriosis can be challenging, but finding the help you need doesn't have to be.This article explores what goes into diagnosing endometriosis, possible risk factors, symptoms, complications, and when to see your doctor.
Causes of Endometriosis
Endometriosis revolves around the reproductive system, where the menstrual cycle is regulated through hormones produced by the ovaries. The estrogen hormone typically increases each month, causing the uterine lining to thicken. This lining is called the endometrium.
If the woman doesn’t get pregnant, she has her period — or in other words — the endometrium will break down and shed.
Endometriosis is a disease in which cells resembling and acting like the endometrium grow outside the uterus. These cells are often referred to as lesions or implants.
While the precise cause of endometriosis hasn’t yet been identified, most medical professionals suspect there are common factors that put people at risk of getting the disease.
Endometriosis Risk Factors
Endometriosis risk factors include:
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual periods (lasting over seven days)
- Short menstrual cycles (less than 27 days)
- A family history of endometriosis
- Menstruating at a young age (the current average age is 12.5 years)
- Producing higher levels of estrogen than considered normal
If any of these factors apply to you, talk to your gynecologist. You might have endometriosis or another underlying issue that is important to address.
Endometriosis Symptoms
While endometriosis symptoms may vary from person to person, the most common symptom is pelvic pain. The pelvis is the lower part of the torso, located between the legs and abdomen. Pelvic pain associated with endometriosis usually occurs a few days before and during the menstrual period and can be very painful.
However, the intensity of your pain may not always properly indicate the magnitude of the condition. In some cases, minimal or no pain at all can still be associated with severe endometriosis and mild endometriosis can cause intense pain.
You may have endometriosis if you experience any or all of the following symptoms:
- Severe menstrual cramps
- Troubles with fertility
- Pain during or after intercourse
- Excessive bleeding or spotting between periods
- Painful bowel movements and urination
- Diarrhea, constipation, bloody stool or urine, or bloating
- Nausea or vomiting
- Lower-back or pelvic pain
- Extreme fatigue
When the body stops producing estrogen, which is also known as menopause, pain often lessens. Remember that the size or amount of lesions doesn’t always correlate with the pain level you might be feeling.
When to See Your Doctor
Endometriosis can be a debilitatingly painful condition. If you are experiencing pain in your pelvic area or are experiencing the common symptoms listed above, we suggest you talk to your gynecologist.
Some symptoms resemble other conditions, such as pelvic inflammatory disease or irritable bowel syndrome. As a result, endometriosis can be mistakenly diagnosed. It’s important to be evaluated by an experienced endometriosis doctor familiar with the disease.
Schedule an appointment with a provider who specializes in diagnosing endometriosis today.
Endometriosis and Infertility, Plus Other Complications
Endometriosis and Infertility
For some people, infertility is their only symptom of endometriosis. Although the physical pain isn’t present for them, the emotional pain may still be present. About one-third of women with endometriosis symptoms are also affected by infertility. The reason for the correlation between endometriosis and infertility isn’t completely known, but there are probable causes for this to be the case.
In the process of becoming pregnant, an oocyte (immature egg) is released by an ovary and picked up by the fimbriae, the fringe of tissue around the end of the fallopian tube. When this occurs, it allows the oocyte to travel through the fallopian tube, become fertilized by a sperm, and eventually be brought into the uterus and implanted on the uterine wall to begin development.
Endometriosis causes swelling and inflammation throughout the reproductive organs, which can damage the sperm and affect the fimbriae and other areas that transport the egg before it reaches the uterus. Endometriosis lesions also adhere to neighboring pelvic organs, causing them to stick together and disable them from functioning properly.
Other Complications From Endometriosis
Not only can endometriosis cause infertility, but women can also experience other complications such as:
- Ovarian cysts. Very painful, and even sometimes large, fluid-filled cysts in the ovaries.
- Adhesions. When the endometrium-like tissue (lesions) creates a “sticky” impression, causing organs to stick together.
- Surgery complications. Itis most commonly due to adhesions but may also cause pain at incision sites.
Are you unsure who to trust with your endometriosis medical care? Schedule an appointment today with one of Moreland OB-GYN’s experienced and knowledgeable providers.
Diagnosing Endometriosis
Your gynecologist will ask you to explain your endometriosis symptoms and when and where you experience pain. The following are common tests your doctor will perform to check for physical indications of endometriosis.
- Pelvic exam. This exam will allow your doctor to manually feel for cysts on your organs in the pelvic area or for scars behind your uterus.
- Ultrasound. You might receive a transvaginal ultrasound. A transducer is an ultrasound device that is inserted into your vagina. This procedure identifies any cysts that could be related to your pain.
- MRI. An MRI may be used for planning surgery to recover detailed images of the organs and even the tissue within your reproductive area. Your doctor can use this to see if there are any lesions and adhesions on your organs.
- Laparoscopy. Laparoscopy is a minor outpatient surgery. It is done not only to diagnose endometriosis but also to temporarily treat endometriosis.. The surgeon makes an insertion through your navel and uses a scope to cauterize, laser, or cut the lesions forming on the outside of your uterus or other reproductive organs.
Your treatments can also depend on what stage of endometriosis you’re in. Although everyone has different symptoms, including the amount of pain they experience, endometriosis is broken down into four stages.
Stages of Endometriosis
The stages of endometriosis are classified based on the extent and location of lesions and the severity of adhesions. The stages also take into account whether you have ovarian cysts and the size of them.
Here are the four stages of endometriosis and the symptoms associated with each.
- Stage 1 or minimal endometriosis: small-scale lesions and no adhesions.
- Stage 2 or mild endometriosis: shallow but larger lesions with no significant adhesions.
- Stage 3 or moderate endometriosis: deep-seated lesions, cysts on one or both ovaries and thin adhesions.
- Stage 4 or severe endometriosis: multiple deep lesions, large cysts on the ovaries, and thick adhesions.
Moreland OB-GYN Associates, S.C., is dedicated to the needs of its patients. At Moreland OB-GYN, we promote overall excellence in women’s health care. Our compassionate providers understand the difficulties that women face in their daily health. Whether it is unexplainable pain or unusual symptoms, we are here to listen and provide our expert care.
