Painful Periods? It May Be Endometriosis (443 hits)
Feeling abdominal pain, especially around your period? Endometriosis could be the culprit. We'll explain who’s at risk, what the most effective treatments are and how it affects fertility...
1. What is endometriosis? It's a condition in which the same cells that make up the uterus lining (known as endometrial cells) grow outside the uterus too. No one’s sure what causes this? These cells are most commonly found in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, ligaments holding the uterus in place, and the pelvic cavity lining.
Although it’s rarer, they can also grow almost anywhere in the pelvis – such as the ******, cervix, bladder and bowel. They’ve even been reported growing in other organs of the body, including the lung, liver, brain and skin. Normally, endometrial cells of the uterine lining are shed during the monthly menstrual cycle. Outside the uterus, they'll bleed out monthly wherever they're located.
If these cells grow on organs that don’t have an exit from the body, the blood will remain, causing pain and, eventually, scar tissue.
2. What are its symptoms? The primary symptom is pain.
It’s most commonly felt as painful periods or discomfort in the lower abdominal, pelvic and low back area any time throughout your cycle. Women also often have pain during or after s*x, or with bowel movements or urination. Some also get gastrointestinal issues, including diarrhea or constipation, bloating or nausea. Others become extremely fatigued.
3. What are the risk factors? How common is it? Endometriosis is common. More than 5 million women in the U.S. have this condition. Risk factors include:
Age~ It’s most common in women of reproductive age, and unusual in postmenopausal women. Family history~ Ethnicity~ Menstrual cycle characteristics~ Pregnancy history~ Medical history~ Physical traits~
4. Can a woman have endometriosis without any symptoms? Yes. Symptoms aren't dependent on severity of the condition. Some women with severe endometriosis have no symptoms, while others with very mild cases suffer extreme pain.
5. How is it diagnosed? Would a doctor find it during a routine gynecological exam? Endometriosis can only be definitely diagnosed by pelvic laparoscopy [when your ob-gyn examines the pelvic organs using an instrument inserted into the navel]. If the endometrial implants [growths outside the uterus] are large enough, or if cysts form, they may be seen on a pelvic ultrasound or felt during a routine gynecologic exam....
