What is Endometriosis?
The endometrium is the uterus’ inner lining. The endometrium’s lining sheds through the vaginal canal during a menstrual period. Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial pieces grow outside of the uterus’s inner lining. Endometrial fragments can attach to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, vaginal mucosa, peritoneum, and intestine. Endometriosis tissue behaves similarly to uterine tissue in that it develops, thickens, and attempts to shed with each menstrual cycle. Because the tissue cannot leave the body, adhesions, nodules, and lesions can form, triggering an inflammatory reaction. This reaction can result in discomfort and other issues, such as infertility.Endometriosis Symptoms
The cramps you get during your period can be excruciating. However, if you have endometriosis, the pain may be so severe that it interferes with your regular activities. It may even prevent you from doing some of your favourite activities. Endometriosis discomfort is dubbed “killing cramps” by some women because it may be so intense that it can make you stop in your tracks. Many people’s problems worsen as they grow older.Other symptoms of endometriosis include:
- Heavy Periods
- Severe Cramps
- Severe Migraines
- Back Pain During Periods
- Bleeding Between Periods
- Blood in Your Urine
- Painful Bowel Movements
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Constipation or Diarrhoea
- Bloating
- Infertility
- Painful Sex
The Stages of Endometriosis
Endometriosis is divided into four phases based on the specific location, extent, and thickness of endometriosis implants, as well as the presence and severity of scar tissue and the presence and size of endometrial implants in the ovaries. Here are those four phases-Stage I- Minimal Stage II- Mild Stage III- Moderate Stage IV- Severe
Depending on the infiltration seen during laparoscopy, one can decide on the stage. Women with chocolate cysts in the ovaries (endometriomas) fall in the severe grade.
Endometriosis Causes
Researchers are baffled as to why or how endometrial tissue makes its way to other areas of the body. However, there are certain patterns.- Endometriosis is a condition that might be hereditary.
- Women with light menstrual periods or a longer-than-normal flow are more likely to develop endometriosis. Endometriosis is twice as likely to occur in women who have fewer than 25 days between periods or who menstruate for more than 7 days.
- Dioxin, an industrial toxin, might be one of the factors.
- Retrograde flow of menstrual blood to the tubes instead of the vagina is also thought to be a causative factor.
- Another notion is that hormones cause cells outside the uterus to convert into endometrial cells, which line the interior of the uterus.
- Others believe the condition might develop if endometrial tissue forms in tiny parts of the abdomen, which might be because the cells in your abdomen are made up of embryonic cells that can alter the structure and behave like endometrial cells. It’s unclear why this happens.
- Surgical scars, such as those left behind after a caesarean delivery, AKA C-section, can potentially allow menstrual blood to seep into the pelvic cavity.
- Another notion is that endometrial cells leave the uterus via the lymphatic system.
- Another idea proposes that it is caused by a weak immune system that fails to kill rogue endometrial cells.
- Some believe that endometriosis originates during the foetal stage as a result of misdirected cell tissue that reacts to puberty hormones. The Mullerian theory is the name given to this concept.
- Endometriosis can be caused for a number of reasons, including genetics and even contaminants in the environment.
Endometriosis Treatment
You naturally want immediate relief from endometriosis pain and other symptoms. If left untreated, this condition might cause major problems in your life. Endometriosis does not have a cure; however, the symptoms can be managed.Medical and surgical solutions are available to assist you with managing your symptoms and any issues that may arise. Your doctor could start with more cautious measures. Here are a few treatment options available to you:
Pain Medication: If your symptoms are minor, your doctor will most likely recommend that you take anti-inflammatory medication. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen are examples.
Hormone Therapy: Supplemental hormones can help reduce discomfort and slow the growth of endometriosis in certain cases. Hormone therapy assists your body in regulating the monthly hormonal fluctuations that stimulate tissue development in endometriosis patients.
Hormone Birth Control: The excessive monthly bleeding that sometimes accompanies endometriosis can be reduced by using hormone birth control. To prevent you from getting your period, your doctor may recommend that you use hormonal birth control for three or more months.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH): Women take GnRH agonists and antagonists to stop estrogen from stimulating the ovaries. Estrogen is the primary hormone involved in the development of female sexual characteristics. By inhibiting oestrogen synthesis, menstruation is prevented, resulting in artificial menopause.
Surgery: Conservative surgery is for women who wish to get pregnant or who are in extreme discomfort and have tried and failed hormonal therapies. Conservative surgery aims to remove or eradicate endometrial growths while avoiding harm to the reproductive organs.
Endometriosis & Infertility
It’s unclear why endometriosis makes it difficult for a woman to conceive. Endometriosis can cause inflammation, which inhibits the sperm and egg from meeting peacefully during fertilization in some situations. Scarring and adhesions caused by endometriosis can obstruct the fallopian tubes and ovaries, preventing the sperm and egg from meeting. Endometriosis can lead the immune system to fight the embryo, making carrying a child to term difficult.Endometriosis on the ovaries can prevent eggs from being released or cause eggs to be of low quality, making fertilization impossible. Endometriosis can also inhibit the endometrium of the uterine lining where implantation takes place from properly growing, rendering it unsuitable for an embryo.
However, precise diagnosis and a tailored approach can definity help these women conceive. The team at Banker IVF is eager to assist ladies in Ahmedabad who are experiencing infertility due to endometriosis. Although there is no treatment for endometriosis, we will work with you to discover the most natural and least intrusive way to conquer the condition’s infertility issues.
Also Read: Infertility Causes- Causes of Male Infertility & Causes of Female Infertility