Endometriosis
January 6, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a painful condition caused by tissue similar to the endometrium, or uterus lining, that is found outside of the uterus, such as along the pelvic wall, on the bowel, appendix, ovaries. This tissue can cause scar tissue and adhesions.
What are the symptoms?
Many women with endometriosis go undiagnosed for a long time. Because the pain can be associated with the menstrual cycle, they may think it is related. However, the pain can be so severe that it affects daily life activities.
· Pain can occur at any time before during or after menstruation or at any time while urinating, during sex, or when moving the bowels. Pain can be felt in the lower back.
· Excessive bleeding during menstruation
· Infertility
Why does it cause pain?
Because the tissue is like the uterine tissue, when your body is sending hormones to the uterus that will result in a menstrual period, the tissue outside of the uterus receive the same signals. However, as it swells with blood and gets ready to be eliminated, as it would if it was in the uterus, the blood has nowhere to go. This can result in cysts forming and causing pain. As well, scar tissue and adhesions can cause pain depending on where they are.
What can be done?There are different types of medications that your doctor would likely want to try, but if they are not successful in relieving the pain, surgery may be suggested. Surgery can be just to remove the lesions or cysts, or could be a hysterectomy, removal of the uterus.For more in-depth information, here are some sites that have reliable and up-to-date information:
