Endometriosis is a disorder where tissues, similar to that in your uterus lining, grows outside the uterus. In most cases, the disorder involves your fallopian tubes, ovaries, and your pelvis tissues. However, the tissues often spread to other organs. If you have endometriosis, the endometrial tissues thicken, breaks down, and bleeds during every menstrual cycle. However, they get trapped in your body as there is no way for them to get out. Seek the help of Dr. Ulas Bozdogan if you suspect that you may have endometriosis.
What Are the Symptoms of Endometriosis?
The earliest symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain during menstrual periods. Even though many women experience some pain and cramping with their menstrual periods, endometriosis makes the pain worse. The pain gets worse with time. Common signs and symptoms of the disorder are:
Painful Periods
Even though painful periods are not always a sign of endometriosis, they may be the first sign. You may experience cramping and pelvic pain for several days. Most people with endometriosis experience abdominal and lower back pain .
Excessive Bleeding
If you have endometriosis, your menstrual periods may be too heavy. You may also experience bleeding between your periods.
Pelvic Pain
The type of pelvic pain you experience depends on the location of your endometrial implants. If you have implants in areas with high nerve density or deep into your organs, you are likely to experience more pain. The pain from endometriotic implants can cause scarring around your pelvic tissues.
Pain During Intercourse
Endometriosis may cause pain during or after intercourse. The amount of pain varies from one person to another.
Infertility
For some people, endometriosis is first diagnosed when trying to find fertility help. The disorder makes it difficult to conceive.
Endometriosis is a painful medical condition caused when tissue (endometrium) that normally lines the uterus begins growing outside the uterus, most commonly on the outside of the uterus, on the bowel, or on the ovaries or the fallopian tubes. Less commonly, these tissue growths or “implants” can grow outside the abdominal area. Implants can range in size and cause different symptoms depending on where they’re located and their size. In turn, implant growth rates and size can vary from one person to another and often fluctuate with changes in hormone levels. Endometriosis almost solely occurs during the childbearing years with implant growth halting during menopause.
Painful Urination and Bowel Movement
You may experience pain during urination or bowel movement especially during a menstrual period.
Other signs and symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Chronic fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Lower back pain
Causes of Endometriosis
There is no known cause of endometriosis. According to one theory, the flow of retrograde menstrual debris deposits the endometrial tissue in different locations. The cause of retrograde menstruation is not clear. Plenty of women who experience retrograde menstruation do not experience endometriosis. Therefore, it is clear that other factors could cause the disorder.
According to another theory, areas lining your pelvic organs have primitive cells that can grow into forms of tissue.
The direct transfer of endometrial tissues during surgery may also cause endometriosis.
Endometrial cells may be transferred through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. It is the easiest explanation for endometriosis that affects the brain and other organs away from the pelvis.
In conclusion, you should see a doctor if you suspect that you have endometriosis. Do not rely on the severity of your pain as an indicator for the extent of your condition. It is possible to have severe endometriosis even though you experience mild pain. An early diagnosis makes it easy to manage your symptoms.
