Women often hear about endometriosis as a condition that can happen to women of reproductive ages. Naturally, they would ask “what is endometriosis?” The uterus has an inner lining called endometrium. This endometrium is a very important part of the uterus for this is where the egg cell would implant itself after fertilization. If fertilization does not happen, it sloughs off during a woman’s menstrual cycle. In endometriosis, the endometrium grows in other parts of the body other than the uterus. It can be found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or on the superficial lining of the pelvic cavity.
When delving into the question of “what is endometriosis,” do understand that the condition is benign. It can affect 3% to 18% of women in the United States that are within their reproductive years. Endometriosis occurs in some women when they start experiencing menstrual periods. The condition also stops when the woman reaches menopausal stage. It is not understood what causes endometriosis and why some women can go through life without experiencing the condition. Some do not seek treatment because the signs and symptoms of endometriosis can be masked by the same signs and symptoms during menstruation. These symptoms can include:
- Painful menstrual cycle that increases in severity through time
- Pain during and/or after intercourse
- Pain during bowel movement
- Dull, heavy feeling along the pelvic area and lower back that can occur anytime, without warning. In some women, the condition is experienced throughout the day.
To answer “what is endometriosis,” it is one of the common causes of pelvic pain or discomfort in women. It is also among the leading reasons why women have to undergo laparoscopic surgery. There are medications prescribed to limit the pain brought about by endometriosis and may even prevent its growth. NSAID’s are generally given to lessen the pain and inflammation around the pelvic area. Birth control pills are also prescribed to help prevent proliferation of endometrial implants, but they are only given to women who have no plans of getting pregnant. If NSAID’s and birth control pills do not work, some hormonal therapy is prescribed to limit the proliferation and even shrink the size of endometrial implants.
The problem with these hormonal therapies is that they induce a state somewhat similar to menopause where your menstrual cycle is completely halted. Side effects of these drugs are similar to the discomforts experienced by women in menopausal age, and they even increase the risk of osteoporosis. Hormonal replacement therapy for endometriosis includes gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRH analogs), Progestin, and Danazol. These medications must only be taken with the recommendation of the doctor and must be taken according to physician’s instructions.
Posts Tagged ‘Pelvic Cavity’
The symptoms of endometriosis and ovarian cancer symptoms have some overlap, which is why some women with endometriosis worry about the risk of developing ovarian cancer. But before you jump to conclusions lets take a look at the symptoms of endometriosis versus ovarian cancer.
During your monthly period, your uterine wall is shed, and appears as bloody discharge. This is actually a remnant of the endometrium, a layer of muscle and blood designed to support an embryo. If the egg your body releases every month is not fertilized, hormones signal your uterus to shed the uterine lining.
For endometriosis sufferers, endometrial tissue similar to the uterus lining is found in areas outside of the uterus. This migrating endometrial tissue adheres to surrounding organs, causing inflammation and scar tissue to form, resulting in you feeling severe pain, usually at the same time as your menstrual cycle.
This rogue endometrial tissue not only effects the organs found in the pelvic cavity, but also can migrate and attach itself to the bladder, bowel, intestines and colon. In rare cases endometrial lesions have been found in the lungs, spine, and brain and on the skin.
Endometriosis, however, is not cancer.
Ovarian cancer, on the other hand, entails the formation of cysts on your ovaries. These cysts are often benign, and can be removed by surgery if they are detected early.
However, if they start moving to other parts of the body, ovarian cancer can become malignant.
Fluctuations or abnormalities in hormonal levels in your body most likely cause both endometriosis and ovarian cancer. According to studies, women with endometriosis are also more likely to develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime.
So, what are the symptoms of endometriosis?
Severe, disabling pain in the abdominal area that gets worse over time can be the first sign of endometriosis.
Other symptoms will include, but are not limited to:
Vomiting
Nausea
abnormal or irregular menstrual cycles, including bleeding or spotting in between periods
painful urination
painful bowel movements
painful sexual intercourse
heavy menstrual periods
back pain during menstruation
infertility or difficulty conceiving.
Compare these to the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Like endometriosis, women with ovarian cancer will experience pain, although this will manifest at first as a sense of heaviness in the pelvic area.
Other signs of ovarian cancer will include:
vaginal bleeding
abnormal or irregular menstrual cycles
progressive but unexplainable back pain
increased weight gain around the abdomen
inexplicable weight gain or loss
vomiting
nausea
bloody stool
loss of appetite
increased urination
excessive or increased hair growth
increased fluids lining the lungs
sometimes even positive readings on pregnancy tests even if the affected woman is not pregnant.
Because the two illnesses are closely linked, the symptoms of endometriosis versus ovarian cancer can overlap. If you suspect that you have endometriosis or ovarian cancer, consult with your physician immediately. Read as much as you can, and do research on your condition, so that you are better informed on the therapy options available to you.