What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that forms the lining of your uterus grows outside of your uterine cavity. The lining of your uterus is called the endometrium.
Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue grows on your ovaries, bowel, and tissues lining your pelvis. During the changes in your menstrual cycle the endometrium also changes and breaks down just like your uterus causing the affected area to become inflamed and painful.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
- painful periods
- pain in the lower abdomen before and during menstruation
- cramps one or two weeks around menstruation
- heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods
- infertility
- pain following sexual intercourse
- discomfort with bowel movements
- lower back pain that may occur at any time during your menstrual cycle
- Sometimes no symptom at all
How is Endometriosis Treated?
Medical and surgical options are available to help reduce your symptoms and manage complications. Your doctor will start off with non-invasive treatments, then recommend surgery if your condition doesn’t improve.
- Pain medication
- Hormone therapy
- Laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgery, is used to both visualize and diagnose, endometriosis. It is also used to remove the endometrial tissue.
- Last resort: Total hysterectomy, the uterus, cervix and ovaries are removed because these organs make estrogen, and estrogen causes the growth of endometrial tissue.
How is Endometriosis diagnosed?
- Detailed history
- Physical exam
- Ultrasound
- Laparoscopy
Any woman can develop endometriosis and unfortunately, it has no cure. It is not known what exactly causes it.
Just like any other disease, detecting it early is the best way to get it under control. Are you experiencing any of the symptoms listed above? Then it is time to visit us.
At Medicliq, you have access to doctors like Dr. Nahed Hammadieh who is a consultant gynecologist and a sub-specialist in reproductive medicine and surgery. To give you the best care and approach to your condition.