What Is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is an issue a lot of women confront during the child bearing period. This condition arises when a certain tissue that is meant to line your uterus, also begins to grow outside of it. Even though this problem barely ever displays any symptoms, occasionally the condition can be painful and cause great discomfort.

During the period of this problem, clumps of tissue called ‘Implants’ begin to form outside the uterus. These clumps either grow on the ovaries, the intestines, the fallopian tubes, outer wall of the uterus or other organs pertaining to the belly.

The uterus is lined with endometrium which is a type of a tissue. Here is what happens: every month, your body releases a certain hormone that causes the endometrium to thicken in texture and prepare itself for an egg. If you are to get pregnant, the fertilized egg will attach itself to the endometrium and start growing, leading to conception. If you are not pregnant, the endometrium will break down and get disposed in the form of blood, formulating into your menstrual period.  However, when you endometriosis, the implants during the menstrual cycle break down and bleed out, but since they are outside the uterus, the blood does not flow out the body. They can cause great pain and discomfort, and lead to the formation of scar tissues and scar tissues, which can pose to be problematic during pregnancy.

The causes of the disease have yet not been discovered, but some experts claim estrogen aggravates the condition.

Endometriosis Symptoms

Endometriosis is a condition that goes unnoticed in most women as it usually doesn’t display any severe symptoms. Most women end up discovering the problem when they visit their physician because they cannot get pregnant. However, some women do experience mild cramping while others may experience severe pain and heavy bleeding. The symptoms are more severe right before and during the menstruation period.
The most common symptoms of endometriosis, when they do occur are:

• Pain in the region where the implants are growing
• Abnormal bleeding in the form of heavy periods, after sex or blood in the urine or stool
• Possibility of infertility

Endometriosis Treatment

Since the cause of endometriosis has yet not been discovered, there is no particular treatment due to the uncertainty of the causes. However, treatment can be administered to alleviate some of the symptoms, especially pain and infertility. If you are experiencing pain alone as a symptom, then hormone therapy is a good option as it can help lower the body’s estrogen levels, shrinking the implants and reducing pain. However, if you are trying to get pregnant and cannot because of the symptom pertaining to infertility, then having a surgery or undergoing infertility treatment are both more preferable options.

Nevertheless, it is essential to know that if the symptoms are barely visible and not causing any hindrance in the form of pain or infertility, then it is better to not get any unnecessary treatment at all. Endometriosis tends to get better during pregnancy and improves when you are nearing menopause. Hence, when choosing a line of treatment, be sure to analyze the intensity of your symptoms first, or consult a doctor.