HealthyCanada.com

Overview

Endometriosis or "endo" is a disease in which tissue that normally lines the uterus begins to grow elsewhere. It is a common condition affecting more than half a million Canadian women including teenagers. Endometriosis can't be cured but its symptoms can usually be controlled.

• Extremely painful menstrual cramps
• Heavy menstrual periods
• Premenstrual spotting or bleeding between periods
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Pain during or after sex
• Intestinal pain
• Painful bowel movements or painful urination during menstrual periods
• Fatigue
• Infertility

These symptoms don't necessarily mean you have endometriosis. Common infections can cause some similar symptoms. However if you have any of these symptoms call your doctor or schedule an appointment with a gynecologist.

Endometriosis takes its name from the endometrium the tissue that lines the uterus. Tissue that looks and acts like the endometrium starts to grow outside the uterus; usually on the ovaries fallopian tubes and ligaments that support the uterus; the area between the vagina and rectum; the outer surface of the uterus; and the lining of the pelvic cavity.

This misplaced tissue develops into growths which respond to the menstrual cycle in the same way that the tissue of the uterine lining does: each month the tissue builds up breaks down and sheds. Menstrual blood flows from the uterus and out of the body through the vagina but the blood and tissue shed from endometrial growths has no way of leaving the body. This results in internal bleeding breakdown of the blood and tissue from the lesions and inflammation.

It isn't known exactly why this happens however some scientists believe that the menstrual blood flow backs up into the fallopian tubes carrying some tissue from the uterine lining with it. Others suspect endometrial tissue cells travel out of the uterus through blood or lymph vessels and then start growing in the new locations where they're deposited. Yet another theory suggests that some women are born with "misplaced" cells that can turn into endometrial implants later in life. It is known that if you have a close family member who has endometriosis you are more likely to have it as well.

Although there is no cure for endometriosis there are a variety of treatment options that are aimed at relieving/reducing pain shrinking or slowing endometrial growths preserving or restoring fertility and preventing/delaying recurrence of the disease.

Pain Medication:

Works well if your pain or other symptoms are mild. These medications range from over-the-counter remedies such as aspirin and acetaminophen as well as prescribed prostaglandin inhibitors.

Hormone Therapy:

The goal of hormonal treatment is to stop ovulation for as long as possible. Common hormones used to treat endometriosis pain are progesterone and birth control pills. Side effects may be a problem for some women.

Surgery

A doctor can remove the growths by directing an intense light beam (laser) onto them with the help of a laparoscope. After this treatment many women find relief from their symptoms but some may experience pain again if the growths return over time. Laparoscopic treatment is the typical type of surgical treatment for endometriosis although in rare cases radical surgery including hysterectomy and removal of ovaries may be needed.