What Is Endometriosis - How To Manage It?

Endometriosis can have multiple impacts. While in some, it could be painful menstrual cycles, in others, fertility could be affected. There are some women who may not get diagnosed at all, as they may have very minimal symptoms and may just ignore the painful periods as normal. Endometriosis grows in severity gradually and symptoms also may worsen with time and the size and amount of dislodged tissue within the pelvis. Endometriosis can be identified on pelvic scans when a woman complains of severe pelvic pain over a period of time.

While some women may have endometriosis with no symptoms at all, others may face multiple complications. Infertility is the most common one, and when identified, doctors advise the woman to not delay pregnancy. Ovarian cancer is another potentially serious complication. The endometrial tissue can dislodge and get settled elsewhere in the pelvic cavity, leading to multiple locations being affected. If there is a family history of endometriosis, it is advisable to rule out endometriosis in the concerned female.

The most common complication arising out of endometriosis is infertility. If a woman is not able to conceive, check if there is a strong family history, early onset of menstruation, or reduced immunity. Also look for symptoms like painful menstruation, excessive bleeding, and painful intercourse. Correlating these two should help in arriving at a diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment. Early intervention also helps in preventing further spread of the disease. Talk to your doctor about symptoms to watch for if you have a strong family history of endometriosis.

In some women, no treatment may be required, as the condition can remain completely asymptomatic. Some might just need some moral support during painful periods. Others find relief in simple pelvic exercises. Some manage with painkillers and heat pads during their periods. There is a very small group which actually requires surgical treatment for endometriosis, and this ranges from conservative surgery to just remove the dislodged uterine tissue to complete hysterectomy. This should only be done in women who are done with their pregnancy phase. Surgery should be considered after a thorough discussion on the pregnancy needs of the woman.