Endometriosis is an extremely painful disorder where the tissues that lines the inside of the uterus (endometrium) starts growing on the outside of the uterus (womb). Endometriosis usually includes the tissues lining the pelvis, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
During Endometriosis, the endometrial tissues breaks down and bleeds. This tissue doesn’t have any way to exit from the body so it gets trapped. Endometriosis causes chronic pain during your periods. Also, fertility can be affected as this condition might create issues during conceiving a baby.
Endometriosis is a reproductive disorder that normally shows different signs & symptoms in every patient and in some cases, there are no major symptoms. The condition of endometriosis is divided into four stages which are (1) Minimal, (2) Mild, (3) Moderate and (4) Severe.
In Minimal endometriosis, there is a presence of few small wounds, lesions or implants over the ovary without any scar tissue. If lesions are seen over the ovary and the pelvic lining as light with shallow implants & scar tissues, it is mild endometriosis.
Under Stage- 3 many deep implants and lesions are present on one or both ovaries whereas severe endometriosis is a presence of thick bands of scar tissues, adhesions with many deep implants on both ovaries, fallopian tubes and in bowel region.
Endometriosis is a condition where an overgrowth of the endometrium occurs outside the uterus and grows over ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, and tissue linings of the pelvis. This abnormal growth of endometrium causes inflammation and other signs like pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, excessive bleeding, discomfort in bowel movements, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, etc.
A woman suffering from this condition may experience lower back pain during the menstrual periods, abdominal cramps before one or two weeks of menstruation and also during menstruation. In some cases, women also face difficulties in getting pregnant.
Endometriosis can cause pain in different parts of the body. Some of the areas that may pain includes:
The exact cause of Endometriosis is not yet known but studies suggest that it can be caused due to some factors such as:
The diagnosis of Endometriosis is done in the following steps:
The symptoms of Endometriosis can end permanently if you experience menopause and can end temporarily if you get pregnant. Taking estrogen supplements can also trigger Endometriosis in some women.
Endometriosis can cause several other complications if left untreated, some of the symptoms may include:
In some cases, dairy products lead to inflammation as they contain growth hormones and antibiotics which can flare up the Endometriosis symptoms.
Endometriosis does not make an individual infertile yet it makes it hard to conceive. This is because the excess tissue causes scarring, and blockage in the fallopian tubes causing obstacles between egg and sperm.
Treatment of Endometriosis can remove the extra tissue making it easy for an individual to get pregnant.
Endometriosis can reoccur subsequently and its treatment controls the abnormal growth of endometrium. The treatment has an objective of reliving symptoms and enhancement of fertility. The course of treatment depends on the age of the patient, pain associated with the condition and stage of the disease.
Pain medications (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen are prescribed as an over-the-counter medication. Hormonal therapies in form of pills, injections or nasal sprays are advised that include hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills or patches), progestin therapy, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and antagonists, etc.
At Stages-03 and 04, conservative surgeries or hysterectomy (with or without removal of the ovaries) are performed to treat this condition.
Endometriosis may require urgent medical care and attention in some cases. Those concerning symptoms include the following:
For most women, endometriosis goes away when the period stops at menopause. However, some of the self-care techniques and home remedies are preferred which play an important role in controlling and managing the symptoms of endometriosis. Medical management provides symptomatic relief until menopause. Surgical management may lead to the resolution of symptoms though recurrence may occur.
It is advisable to plan the pregnancy post Endometriosis treatment as it can cause serious complications for both of them. If one is planning to get pregnant, your doctor will ask you to complete the treatment course beforehand. Another reason behind postponing the pregnancy is a medication that is used to treat Endometriosis can also decrease your chances of conceiving.
In most cases, Endometriosis goes away at menopause or in cases when the menstrual cycle stops. In other cases, Endometriosis does not go away on its own. It needs medication and in serious cases, surgery is also required.
Some of the important post-treatment guidelines which need to be followed include the following:
Chances of occurrence of Endometriosis can be minimized by controlling and reducing the amounts of estrogen levels in the body as the hormone estrogen is responsible for the thickening of the uterus lining. Some of the ways for decreasing the estrogen levels include the following:
For most women, endometriosis goes away when the period stops at menopause. Medical management provides symptomatic relief until menopause. Surgical management may lead to the resolution of symptoms though recurrence may occur.
Endometriosis may require urgent medical care and attention in some cases. Those concerning symptoms include the following:
Certain medicines may have side effects. Occurrence of headache preceded by nausea, disturbance in sleeping, abnormality in periods, feeling of being anxious and depressed, pain in the joints, and dryness in the region of the vagina. Oral contraceptive pills may lead to weight gain, abdominal discomfort, bloating, and bleeding between periods.
Some other drugs like consuming progesterone and progestin can cause a gain of weight and irregularity in vaginal bleeding. Danazol can harm the developing fetus and may lead to headaches, tiredness, small breast, sore breast, or hot flushes.
The time duration needed for a complete recovery in case of endometriosis usually depends upon the types of treatment, which in turn depends upon the symptoms of the condition as well as the severity of the illness. When the treatment method involves laparoscopy, two to three days are sufficient for a full recovery from the disease. However, it may take around three to four weeks in case of hysterectomy. To resume regular normal activities, approximately 4 or 6 weeks are needed.
In mild to moderate cases of endometriosis where recovery is possible just by self-care techniques and home remedies, the results of the treatment may or may not be permanent. This is because the chances of recurrence always persist. However, in the cases where the treatment methods involve laparoscopy and hysterectomy, the outcome or results are permanent as these are the surgical procedures.
A woman should take care of her diet if she is suffering from endometriosis. Foods rich in fiber (fruits, vegetables, legumes), foods containing fatty acids (salmons, walnuts) and anti-oxidant foods like oranges, spinach, berries, green tea are recommended for patients.
On the other side, those who suffer from this condition should avoid consuming Trans fat, gluten-containing foods, red meat, high FODMAP diet ( Fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols), alcohol and caffeine-containing items.
Well-balanced food rich in vitamins and minerals and derived from plant sources is often helpful in combating inflammation caused by endometriosis. Fibrous foods like whole grains, fruit, and vegetables, iron-rich foods like nuts, seeds, dark leafy green, broccoli, beans, etc., foods rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants are the preferred food.
Certain food can negatively affect endometriosis. Endometriosis is found more often among those consuming fried, processed, and fast foods which are rich in trans fat. Alcohol, caffeine, gluten, and red meat aggravate inflammation and may lead to further pain and progression of endometriosis.
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties which makes it one of the best products to consume in case one is going through Endometriosis. Curcumin present in turmeric is known to reduce estradiol production.
The price of the treatment for endometriosis includes all the expenses which are related to the procedures performed in the disease along with the medications prescribed by the doctors. The type of procedure performed during the treatment usually determines the actual cost of the treatment. In case Laparoscopy is performed, the total cost that comes varies from Rs. 40000 up to Rs.150000.
There are some natural remedies that can help in dealing with endometriosis. Hydrotherapy or heat can be included in methods to treat pain associated with endometriosis. Taking a hot or warm water bath or placing hot water bottles at the lower abdomen region can provide relief from cramps and pain.
Stress reduction therapies like relaxation response, mindfulness meditation, diaphragmatic breathing can be useful for decreasing cortisol levels in the body because endometriosis causes hormonal imbalance.
Doing pelvic massage with castor oil also gives relief from the pain of endometriosis. Other remedies can be the use of herbal supplements, light exercises and selection of anti-inflammatory foods, rest, etc.
Some of the physical exercises which are preferred for the recovery in case of endometriosis include the following:
Summary: Endometriosis is a medical condition in which the normal lining of the uterus starts to grow outside. The excess lining can be found on other parts like ovaries and even small intestines.