THE SYMPTOMS AND RISKS OF ENDOMETRIOSIS

Endometriosis is a disorder that occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus – endometrium, grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis is usually found in the pelvis or lower abdomen, but can appear anywhere in the body. The endometriosis mainly counts in the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and the tissues lining the pelvis. In some rare cases, the endometrial tissue will grow outside the pelvic regions too.

In a person affected by endometriosis, the dislocated endometrial tissue will act normal and will grow, thicken, and break during the menstrual cycle. If the condition involves the ovaries, there are chances for cyst called endometriomas to form.

Symptoms

A common symptom of endometriosis is the abdominal pain often associated with the menstrual cycle. As most of the women experience menstrual cramps during the periods, they overlook this symptom. However, the pain due to endometriosis will be worse than the usual menstrual pain and it tends to increase over time. Below are some other common symptoms that may occur in women affected by this disorder.

• Excessive Bleeding – You may experience heavy bleeding occasionally during your periods, and this condition is known as Menorrhagia. Furthermore, you can also experience bleeding in between your regular cycle, and this condition is known as Menometrorrhagia.
• Painful Menstruation – The chance of painful periods called dysmenorrhea is high. In this case, the affected person may experience cramps and pelvic pain many days prior to the menstrual periods and will continue several days into the periods. The person may also experience abdomen and lower back pain.
• Pain with Urination and Bowel Movements – This symptom is most likely to be appearing with the periods.
• Pain with Intercourse – The pain during the intercourse or after is the most common symptom of endometriosis.
• Infertility – In most of the women, this disorder is identified when they seek treatment for infertility.

Most of these symptoms occur during the menstrual cycle and some other common symptoms include:

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Bloating
• Nausea

Note that you cannot calculate the severity of the disorder by analyzing the severity of the pain. Some women with low or mild endometriosis suffer severe pain whereas the women with a high case of endometriosis suffer mild pain in certain cases and no pain at all in some rare cases.

Risk Factors

• Low body mass index
• Short menstrual cycles
• Alcohol consumption
• Relatives with endometriosis

Treatment

Consulting with a doctor at a free womens clinic nearby is the first step to take as soon as you experience the symptoms of the health issue. Endometriosis is usually treated with medications or surgery. There are also several hormone therapies to address this disorder including hormonal contraceptive, progestin therapy, Danazol, etc. Your doctor would perform a few tests to diagnose endometriosis and then recommend the right treatment option for your condition.