Endometriosis is said to affect 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years. Perhaps you are one of them. Effects of endometriosis can include painful periods, painful ovulation, pain during and after sexual intercourse, heavy menstrual bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, and infertility. [R] This impacts your physical well-being and can impact your emotional health as well.
What is Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus (called “the endometrium”) is found outside the uterus. The condition induces a chronic inflammatory reaction that may result in scar tissue. [R[
Endometriosis symptoms can include pain before and during periods, pain in between periods, pain during or after sex, pain when urinating or having a bowel movement (often during monthly periods), difficulty achieving pregnancy, and cysts of endometriosis on the ovaries called endometriomas, also sometimes called chocolate cysts. [R] Other symptoms may include heavy bleeding during menstruation and fatigue. [R[ Some of the symptoms have been “normalized” to be associated with menstruation in general, and therefore, there seems to be an average delay of seven years between the onset of symptoms and a woman seeking treatment. [R]
There is no known cause of endometriosis, but it appears to be related to complex interactions of immunologic, hormonal, environmental, and genetic factors. [R] Women have a higher risk of developing endometriosis if their mother and/or sister(s) are also affected. Gynecological factors such as age when the menstrual period starts, prolonged menstrual flow, and short cycle interval may be possible risk factors. [R] There is some evidence environmental factors such as exposures to toxins such as dioxin (an environmental pollutant) and PCBs can correlate to endometriosis symptoms. [R]
While there is currently no cure for endometriosis, there are treatments available. Pain medications may alleviate discomfort symptoms, although they do not address other symptoms such as heavy bleeding, fatigue, or infertility. Birth control pills may also be an option in reducing pain symptoms, though this is not an option for treatment if you are trying to conceive. Additionally, some women may not want to be on a hormone-based medication for an extended period of time. Doctors may also recommend surgery such as laparoscopy to remove endometriosis tissue or a hysterectomy depending on the severity of symptoms [R]
Treatment options are considered in relation to the patient’s age, desire for children, the severity of symptoms, and the endometriosis stage and should be discussed with your provider.
How Does Endometriosis Affect Fertility
Having a diagnosis of endometriosis does not automatically mean a woman will experience infertility; some women can achieve pregnancy without difficulty. Women who have endometriosis may experience difficulty in achieving pregnancy. Studies show endometriosis is the cause of up to 50% of infertility cases. [R] The excess tissue growth may cause adhesions, scarred fallopian tubes, or inflammation of the pelvic structures.
Because endometriosis may be caused by an excess of estrogen in the system, some women may also experience altered immune system functioning, changes in the eggs’ hormonal environment, impaired implantation of a pregnancy, and altered egg quality as a result of the hormonal imbalance. [R]
Endometriosis and IVF
Assisted reproductive technology is the first line of treatment in patients who experience infertility due to endometriosis. [R] Studies seem to indicate that treatment’s success depends on individual patient factors play the most crucial role in the outcome. Treatment choice depends on the patient’s age, duration of infertility, disease level of progression, and childbearing wish. [R]
Integrative medicine may also provide support with pain management and stress during the IVF process for all patients, not just those with endometriosis. Yoga and acupuncture are two ways patients can manage pain and stress levels. A clean diet and lifestyle also promote healthier estrogen levels, which may support efforts in alleviating some symptoms of endometriosis.
If have endometriosis and would like to explore treatment options, contact our clinic for an appointment.
Endometriosis huathiri wanawake 1 kati ya 10 wakati wa miaka yao ya kuzaa. Labda wewe ni mmoja wao. Matokeo ya endometriosis yanaweza kujumuisha vipindi vyenye maumivu, ovulation yenye maumivu, maumivu wakati na baada ya ngono, kutokwa na damu kwa kiasi kikubwa, maumivu ya muda mrefu ya utumbo, uchovu, na utasa. Hii huathiri afya yako ya kimwili na inaweza kuathiri afya yako ya kihisia pia. Endometriosis ni hali ambayo tishu inayofanana na utando ndani ya tumbo la uzazi (inaitwa <unk> endometrium<unk>) hupatikana nje ya tumbo la uzazi. Hali hiyo husababisha mmenyuko wa uvimbe wa kudumu ambao waweza kusababisha tishu ya kidonda. Dalili za endometriosis zinaweza kujumuisha maumivu kabla na wakati wa vipindi, maumivu kati ya vipindi, maumivu wakati wa ngono au baada ya ngono, maumivu wakati wa kukojoa au kuwa na harakati ya matumbo (mara nyingi wakati wa vipindi vya kila mwezi), ugumu wa kupata ujauzito, na cysts ya endometriosis kwenye ovari inayoitwa endometriomas. [R] Dalili nyingine zaweza kutia ndani kutokwa na damu kwa wingi wakati wa hedhi na uchovu. Baadhi ya dalili zimekuwa <unk>normalized<unk> kuhusishwa na hedhi kwa ujumla, na kwa hiyo, kuna inaonekana kuwa wastani wa kuchelewa ya miaka saba kati ya mwanzo wa dalili na mwanamke kutafuta matibabu. Hakuna kisababishi kinachojulikana cha endometriosis, lakini inaonekana kuhusiana na mwingiliano tata wa sababu za kinga, homoni, mazingira, na urithi. Wanawake wana hatari kubwa ya kupata endometriosis ikiwa mama yao na dada zao pia wameathiriwa. Mambo ya magonjwa ya wanawake kama vile umri wakati wa kuanza kwa hedhi, mtiririko wa hedhi uliodumu, na muda mfupi wa mzunguko wa damu yaweza kuwa sababu zinazoweza kusababisha ugonjwa huo. Kuna ushahidi wa sababu za mazingira kama vile kuambukizwa kwa sumu kama vile dioxin (mchanganyiko wa mazingira) na PCBs inaweza kuhusiana na dalili za endometriosis. Ingawa kwa sasa hakuna tiba ya ugonjwa wa endometriosis, kuna matibabu yanayopatikana. Dawa za kupunguza maumivu zaweza kupunguza dalili za kutokuwa na starehe, ingawa hazitashughulikia dalili nyingine kama vile kutokwa na damu sana, uchovu, au utasa. Dawa za kuzuia uzazi zinaweza pia kuwa chaguo la kupunguza dalili za maumivu, ingawa hii sio chaguo la matibabu ikiwa unajaribu kupata mimba. Kwa kuongezea, huenda wanawake fulani wasiwe na hamu ya kutumia dawa zenye homoni kwa muda mrefu. Upasuaji wa laparoscopy au hysterectomy inaweza pia kuelekezwa kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji. Endometriosis inaweza kuathiri uzazi: Ugonjwa wa endometriosis haimaanishi kwamba mwanamke atakuwa na utasa, lakini inaweza kuwa na uwezo wa kupata mimba bila shida. Wanawake walio na endometriosis wanaweza kuwa na ugumu wa kupata mimba. Utafiti unaonyesha endometriosis ni sababu ya asilimia 50 ya visa vya utasa. [R] Ukuzi wa tishu kupita kiasi waweza kusababisha mshikamano, matumbo ya utumbo, au uvimbe wa miundo ya kitanda. Endometriosis inaweza kusababishwa na kuongezeka kwa estrogen katika mfumo, baadhi ya wanawake wanaweza pia kupata mabadiliko ya mfumo wa kinga, mabadiliko katika mazingira ya ovari ya homoni, kupungua kwa kuingizwa kwa mimba, na ubora wa yai kama matokeo ya usawa wa homoni. Endometriosis na IVF: Teknolojia ya uzazi iliyoungwa mkono ni mstari wa kwanza wa matibabu kwa wagonjwa ambao wanapata utasa kwa sababu ya endometriosis. [R] Uchunguzi inaonekana kuonyesha kwamba mafanikio ya matibabu inategemea mambo ya mgonjwa binafsi kucheza jukumu muhimu zaidi katika matokeo. Uchaguzi wa matibabu hutegemea umri wa mgonjwa, muda wa kutokuwa na uzazi, kiwango cha ugonjwa wa maendeleo, na tamaa ya kuzaa. """Uchunguzi wa matibabu ya utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji wa utunzaji." Yoga na acupuncture ni njia mbili ambazo wagonjwa wanaweza kusimamia maumivu na viwango vya mkazo. Chakula safi na mtindo wa maisha pia huendeleza viwango vya afya vya estrogen, ambayo inaweza kusaidia juhudi za kupunguza dalili fulani za endometriosis. Ikiwa una endometriosis na ungependa kuchunguza chaguzi za matibabu, wasiliana na kliniki yetu kwa ajili ya miadi.