Endometriosis an IntroductionDr. Asha S Vijay
Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus – the endometrium grows outside your uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial tissue may spread beyond pelvic organs. With endometriosis, displaced endometrial tissue continues to act as it normally would; it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. Because this displaced tissue cannot exit your body, it becomes trapped. When endometriosis involves the ovaries, cysts called endometriomas may form. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, eventually developing scar tissue and adhesions and abnormal bands of fibrous tissue that can cause pelvic tissues and organs to stick to each other.
Causes
Although the exact cause of endometriosis is not specific, possible explanations include:
• Retrograde menstruation: Menstrual blood containing endometrial cells flows back through the fallopian tubes, into the pelvic cavity instead of out of the body. These displaced endometrial cells stick to pelvic organs’ pelvic walls & surfaces, where they grow and continue to thicken and bleed over throughout the menstrual cycle.
• Transformation of peritoneal cells In what's known as the "induction theory," experts propose that hormones or immune factors promote the transformation n of peritoneal cells that line the inner side of your abdomen into endometrial cells.
• Embryonic cell transformation. Hormones such as estrogen may transform embryonic cells in the earliest stages of development into endometrial cell implants during puberty.
• Surgical scar implantation. After a surgery, Endometrial cells may attach to a surgical incision after surgery, such as a hysterectomy or C-sectional cells transport. The blood vessels or tissue fluid (lymphatic) system may transport endometrial cells to other parts of the body.
• Immune system disorder. A problem with the immune system may make the body unable to recognize and destroy endometrial tissue growing outside the uterus.
Risk factors
Several factors place you at greater risk of developing endometriosis, such as:
• Never giving birth
• Starting your period at an early age
• Going through menopause at an older age
• Short menstrual cycles — for instance, less than 27 days
• Having higher levels of estrogen in your body or greater lifetime exposure to estrogen your body produces
• Low body mass index
• Alcohol consumption
• One or more relatives (mother, aunt, or sister) with endometriosis
• Medical conditions that prevent the typical passage of menstrual flow out of the body
• Uterine abnormalities
Endometriosis usually develops several years after the onset of menstruation (menarche). Signs and symptoms of endometriosis end temporarily with pregnancy and end permanently with menopause unless you're taking estrogen.
Symptoms
The primary symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, often associated with your menstrual period. Although many women experience cramping during their menstrual periods, women with endometriosis typically describe menstrual pain far worse than usual. They also tend to report that the pain increases over time.
Common signs and symptoms of endometriosis may include:
• Painful periods (dysmenorrhea). Pelvic pain and cramping may begin before your period and extend several days into your period. You may also have lower back and abdominal pain.
• Pain with intercourse. Pain during or after sex is joint with endometriosis.
• Pain with bowel movements or urination. You're most likely to experience these symptoms during your period.
• Excessive bleeding. You may experience occasional heavy periods (menorrhagia) or bleeding between periods (menometrorrhagia).
• Infertility. Endometriosis is first diagnosed in some women who are seeking infertility treatment.
• Other symptoms. You may also experience fatigue, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, or nausea, especially during menstrual periods.
• The severity of your pain isn't necessarily a reliable indicator of the extent of the condition.
• Some women with mild endometriosis have intense pain, while others with advanced endometriosis may have slight pain or even no pain at all.
• Endometriosis is sometimes mistaken for other conditions that can cause pelvic pain, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or ovarian cysts.
When to see a doctor?
See your doctor if you have signs and symptoms that may indicate endometriosis. Endometriosis can be a challenging condition to manage. An early diagnosis, a multidisciplinary medical team, and an understanding of your diagnosis may result in better management of your symptoms.
When to get help, get help when period pain is stopping normal daily activities. For example:
• missing work, school, or recreational activities
• when medicines used for period pain don't help reduce the pain
• when you need to stay in bed due to pain
• when symptoms are getting worse
• when you feel upset by your symptoms
• when your ability to cope mentally decreases