Endometriosis is a complex condition in which cells that are normally found in the lining of your womb (endometrium) are found elsewhere, “trapped” in your pelvis, lower abdomen and sometimes other parts of the body. This leads to patches of tissue which are referred to as endometriosis. Not only can this affect your sexual health with severe pain during sex and infertility, it also comes with other upsetting symptoms, including backache and painful bowel movements. But why is your wellbeing affected by endometriosis, and what can you do to fight it?
The most common cause of endometriosis is retrograde menstruation, or a process by which the endometrial tissue from the lining of your uterus flows backwards through your fallopian tubes while you are menstruating. Because this tissue gets trapped, it cannot leave your body the way it usually does during your periods but it will still respond to your body’s monthly hormonal stimulation – regardless of where it is in your system. As a result, these endometriosis implants become inflamed, bleed and develop into scar tissue. If the endometriosis is attached to organs in your pelvic and abdominal cavities, this may lead to problems such as severe pain and infertility and other problems may result. Some wellness experts surmise that the condition may also be caused by a deficient immune system response, hormonal imbalances, genetics or environmental factors.
So, what can you expect to experience if you do develop endometriosis? Symptoms of the disease include:
1. No symptoms. It’s possible to have endometriosis without any of the associated symptoms.
2. Pain in your pelvic region. This is the most common symptom of the disease and can range from something very mild to a severe pain that makes it impossible for you to go about your normal life. This pain has been described as sharp or burning, and it could last all month long. Usually, this pain gets worse during menstruation, with deep penetration during sex, or with bowel movements, and can also worsen during exercise.
3. Abnormal menstrual bleeding. You may have bleeding between periods or during sex.
4. Severe menstrual cramps.
5. Backache.
As the disease has often been confused with other medical problems, endometriosis can be unsettling as a diagnosis as you may not be fully confident you’ve been diagnosed correctly. If your healthcare professional doesn’t perform a laparoscopy, sometimes he or she will prescribe hormonal treatments assuming endometriosis exists. Then, if your body responds and the pain decreases, your healthcare professional will assume that endometriosis was indeed the cause of your pain. Still, without laparoscopy and biopsy, there’s no way for endometriosis to be definitively diagnosed. This is why the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) recommends a peritoneal (tissue) biopsy to confirm the presence of endometrial lesions.
Some women who develop endometriosis are worried about getting pregnant, as the disease has been associated with infertility. However, the truth is that nearly all women who have endometriosis are fertile, and there are many women who have the disease and go on to have children. Unless the disease blocks your Fallopian tubes, endometriosis is generally not thought to be an absolute barrier to contraception. However, if you have surgery to remove the endometrial tissue, this can be a simple laparoscopy or your surgeon may have to remove your ovaries and uterus, preventing you from becoming pregnant. Still, there are other treatment options for endometriosis, including hormonal contraceptives and other hormonal regimens, such as GnRH agonists (gonadotropin releasing hormone drugs). These drugs control the hormonal stimulation of your endometrial tissue.