SarahBear
Moderator
I thought it might be useful to write up a post on endometriosis. Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which the cells that usually line the uterus grow in other parts of the body. It's a very common condition and is estimated to occur in 6-10% of women. The exact number is unknown, because many women never show symptoms, or show only mild symptoms and think little of it. It's even more common in those of us with IBD or other conditions. You are also more likely to have / develop endometriosis if you have never had children, have menstrual periods that last more than seven days, have short menstrual cycles, or have a family member who has endometriosis.
Endometriosis can occur almost anywhere in the body. It most commonly involves the ovaries, bowel, or tissue lining the pelvis (1). The symptoms can vary greatly depending on where it's located. The severity of symptoms can also vary greatly, and often does not correlate to the severity of the disorder.
Common symptoms of endometriosis are:
Common symptoms associated with endometriosis affecting the bowel are (2):
The Center for Endometriosis Care states, "Even when endometriosis does not occur directly on the bowel, it can cause bowel symptoms. Inflammatory mediators can affect the bowel and contribute to them."
Common symptoms associated with the urinary tract are (3):
Common symptoms associated with the lung and chest cavity are (3):
Endometriosis can also occur on the skin, causing visible, painful nodules that may bleed during menstruation. It can affect the sciatic nerve, causing hip pain or discomfort that radiates from the buttock down the leg (3).
Endometriosis is often misdiagnosed as ovarian cysts, fibroids, IBS, IBD, ovarian cancer, STDs, pelvis inflammatory disease, adenomyosis, and other conditions (4).
Endometriosis is usually diagnosed through laparoscopic surgery. Unless the disorder is severe, it's unlikely to show up on an ultrasound or MRI. Laparoscopy is minor and usually performed on an out-patient basis. In order to avoid the surgery, it's common to try to control the symptoms with birth control before a definite diagnosis is made.
Endometriosis is treated with (5):
Sources / further reading:
(1) Mayo Clinic's page on endometriosis - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/endometriosis/DS00289
(2) Center for Endometriosis Care - "Endometriosis and Bowel Symptoms" - http://www.centerforendo.com/articles/bowel.htm
(3) Endometriosis Resolved - "Endometriosis Symptoms" - http://www.endo-resolved.com/symptoms.html
(4) Endometriosis Foundation of America - http://www.endofound.org/endometriosis
(5) Women's Health Endometriosis Fact Sheet - http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/endometriosis.cfm#b
Please feel free to comment with any personal experiences, additional information, questions, or links to articles.
Endometriosis can occur almost anywhere in the body. It most commonly involves the ovaries, bowel, or tissue lining the pelvis (1). The symptoms can vary greatly depending on where it's located. The severity of symptoms can also vary greatly, and often does not correlate to the severity of the disorder.
Common symptoms of endometriosis are:
- Severe menstrual cramps
- Pain with bowel movements or urination (most likely to occur during menstruation)
- Heavy periods
- Bleeding between periods
- Fatigue
- Pain during or after intercourse
- Pain in the lower back and pelvis (most likely during menstruation, but can occur at any time)
- Infertility (but infertility does NOT always occur - many women with endometriosis can have children and have healthy pregnancies, and symptoms often lessen after having a child)
Common symptoms associated with endometriosis affecting the bowel are (2):
- Diarrhea
- Constipation (diarrhea and constipation can alternate)
- Rectal bleeding
- Intestinal cramping
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Painful bowel movements
- Rectal pain
The Center for Endometriosis Care states, "Even when endometriosis does not occur directly on the bowel, it can cause bowel symptoms. Inflammatory mediators can affect the bowel and contribute to them."
Common symptoms associated with the urinary tract are (3):
- Painful or burning urination
- Blood in urine
- Tenderness around the kidneys
- Urinary frequency, retention, or urgency
- Hypertension
Common symptoms associated with the lung and chest cavity are (3):
- Coughing up blood, particularly during menstruation
- Accumulation of air or gas in the chest cavity
- Constricting chest and/or shoulder pain
- Shortness of breath
Endometriosis can also occur on the skin, causing visible, painful nodules that may bleed during menstruation. It can affect the sciatic nerve, causing hip pain or discomfort that radiates from the buttock down the leg (3).
Endometriosis is often misdiagnosed as ovarian cysts, fibroids, IBS, IBD, ovarian cancer, STDs, pelvis inflammatory disease, adenomyosis, and other conditions (4).
Endometriosis is usually diagnosed through laparoscopic surgery. Unless the disorder is severe, it's unlikely to show up on an ultrasound or MRI. Laparoscopy is minor and usually performed on an out-patient basis. In order to avoid the surgery, it's common to try to control the symptoms with birth control before a definite diagnosis is made.
Endometriosis is treated with (5):
- Birth control - decreases the amount of menstrual flow and prevents overgrowth of the tissue that lines the uterus; symptoms will return when the birth control is stopped.
- GnRH agonists and antagonists - reduce the amount of estrogen in a woman's body and stops the menstrual cycle; when the medication is stopped, periods and the ability to get pregnant return, although endometriosis symptoms may not return for months or years.
- Progestins - hormone that works against the effects of estrogen; it stops a woman's periods but can cause irregular vaginal bleeding. The birth control shot Depo-Provera is a progestin.
- Danazol - a weak male hormone that lowers the levels of estrogen and progesterone; it also stops a woman's period or makes it more infrequent. This treatment has side effects such as oily skin, weight gain, shrinking breasts, and facial hair growth, cannot be used with other hormones, and does not prevent pregnancy, so is often used as a last resort.
- Laparoscopy - endometrial growths and scar tissue can be removed during this procedure. As it's a minor surgery, recovery is quick.
- Laparotomy - involves a larger cut than a laparoscopy, but allows the doctor to remove growths in the pelvis or abdomen.
- Hysterectomy - a surgery in which the uterus is removed. The ovaries may also be removed to help ensure that endometriosis will not return. This is only done as a last resort.
Sources / further reading:
(1) Mayo Clinic's page on endometriosis - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/endometriosis/DS00289
(2) Center for Endometriosis Care - "Endometriosis and Bowel Symptoms" - http://www.centerforendo.com/articles/bowel.htm
(3) Endometriosis Resolved - "Endometriosis Symptoms" - http://www.endo-resolved.com/symptoms.html
(4) Endometriosis Foundation of America - http://www.endofound.org/endometriosis
(5) Women's Health Endometriosis Fact Sheet - http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/endometriosis.cfm#b
Please feel free to comment with any personal experiences, additional information, questions, or links to articles.
Last edited:
