What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a health condition that is common among females. It is characterized by the growth of the uterine tissues outside the uterus. In other words, endometriosis occurs when the tissues that line the inside of the uterus begin to spread and develop outside the uterus. Just like the uterine tissue within the uterus, the endometrial tissue performs a similar function to the uterine tissue during menstruation. It sheds blood during menstrual periods, just like the tissue in the uterus.

The only difference between both tissues is that during menstruation, the blood in the uterus has a passage that leads the blood flow out of the body. However, in the case of endometriosis, this abnormal menstrual blood gets trapped in the body, leading to inflammation, chronic pain, and scarring.

According to research, endometriosis affects females of their childbearing age, mostly those aged 30s and 40s. Although the endometrial tissue growing outside of the uterus is not cancerous, it puts its victim at a higher risk of generating certain cancers like ovarian cancer. Besides scarring, inflammation, and pain, endometriosis can also cause cysts to develop in different parts of the reproductive organs. The trapped blood can cause a blockage of the fallopian tube, which can tamper with your chances of having pregnancies.

Studies have shown that these abnormal tissues can grow in different parts of the reproductive organs, ranging from the ovaries to the outer part of the uterus and the fallopian tube. In addition, more studies have shown that they can grow on other organs that are not connected to the reproduction process. Some of these organs include the heart, the lungs, and the digestive tract.

Types of Endometriosis

There are actually 3 types of endometriosis, and they include;

Superficial Peritoneal Lesion

The peritoneum is a tissue, usually thin, that lies within the pelvic cavity. In this case, this tissue gets inflamed as a result of endometriosis. Studies have shown that it is the most common type of endometriosis.

Ovarian lesions are characterized by a group of cysts popularly known as chocolate cysts. They grow in the ovaries and damage some tissues, making them difficult to treat.

Deeply infiltrated endometriosis occurs under the peritoneum, so other organs closer to your uterus can get affected. It is not a common type of endometriosis. According to research, only about 1% of women with endometriosis have this type of endometriosis. Some organs that can be affected by this type of endometriosis include the bladder and the bowels.

Stages of Endometriosis

There are 4 stages of endometriosis, and each of these stages is determined by several factors. Some of these factors are; size, number, and location. The following are stages of endometriosis;

• Stage 1 (minimal stage): Here, lesions occur on the ovaries, and the pelvic cavity becomes inflamed.
• Stage 2 (mild stage): The lesions or wounds on the ovaries become mild, and implants begin to occur in the pelvic lining and the ovaries.
• Stage 3 (moderate stage): This stage is characterized by multiple lesions and implants on the ovaries and pelvic lining, and cavity. It comes with more pain than the prior 2 stages.
• Stage 4 (severe): This is the final stage and most complicated stage of endometriosis. Here, other organs closer to the uterus are usually affected. Also, cysts begin to grow on the ovaries, and the implant on the ovaries and pelvic cavity doubles. At this point, the fallopian tubes also feel the heat of the lesions.

Causes and Risk Factors of Endometriosis

Retrograde menstruation: Instead of blood flowing out of the body, blood backs up into the pelvic cavity through the fallopian tube. When this occurs, the endometrial tissues attach themselves to the pelvic cavity and bleed whenever it is time for menstruation.

Due to immune system issues and hormonal abnormalities, early-stage embryonic cells can be transformed into endometrial-like cells. This mostly occurs during puberty.

Induction Theory

This is also known as the transformation of the peritoneal cells. Instead of the usual uterus tissues growing outside the uterus, here, it is the abdominal cells that transform into cells that are endometrial-like. This transformation can be a result of hormonal or immune abnormalities.

Transportation of endometrial cells by the blood vessels to other parts of the body may cause the endometrial cell to attach themselves to other organs of the body like the heart, lungs, bladder, and bowels.

Surgical Scars

Surgeries carried out on the abdominal region can lead to scars that endometrial tissues can hinge on. Some of these surgeries include cesarean section and hysterectomy.

Immune System Disorder

When the immune system is confused, many things begin to go wrong in the body. Rather than identifying and fighting against cells that exist where there are not supposed to be within the body and fighting them off, it confuses them as good cells and leaves them to keep growing, then goes to fight off the originally good cells. Here, the immune system leaves the endometrial tissues and cells to keep growing and thriving in the body.

Risk Factors of Endometriosis

The following females may experience endometriosis;

• Females who have never given birth
• Low body mass index
• Those who started their menstruation early
• Late menopause
• Heavy menstrual flow that lasts for more than 7 days
• High estrogen in the body
• Those with a short menstrual cycle, usually below 27 days
• Family history
• Reproductive organ disorders

Studies have shown that these risks reduce with pregnancy. However, since infertility is likely to happen when a female has endometriosis, pregnancy may not always be available to reduce the risks of endometriosis in every woman living with this health condition.

Symptoms of Endometriosis

The major symptom of this health condition is pain, especially during menstruation. People living with endometriosis complain about worse menstrual cramping than normal. If you have any of the signs below, you should see a doctor for a physical examination. The following are common signs and symptoms of endometriosis;

Dysmenorrhea

It is also known as a painful period. It is associated with severe cramping, pain in the Lowe back, and pelvic pain during menstruation. It usually starts some days before the period starts and extends into some days of the menstrual flow.

Painful Sex

Endometriosis causes you to feel severe pain during and after sex.

Painful Urination and Bowel Movement

Although most times, this symptom occurs during menstruation, more often than not, menstruation becomes a sort of a nightmare.

Heavy Menstrual Flow

People with endometriosis experience heavy bleedings during their menstruation, and this bleeding can last for more than 7 days. In addition, they may also experience bleeding in-between their period cycle.

Infertility

As a result of how much damage endometriosis can wreck on the reproductive organs, it might tamper with a female’s ability to get pregnant. This is why when couples visit the hospital because of lack of conception, one of the first things doctors check for in females is endometriosis.

Other minor symptoms of endometriosis include;

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Fatigue occurs mostly during menstruation.

Although some of these symptoms occur in other kinds of diseases, this is why until a proper test is carried out, endometriosis may not be easily or accurately detected through the symptoms it manifests. Some of the diseases that manifest similar symptoms as endometriosis include;

• Ovarian cysts
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pelvic inflammatory diseases

Complications of Endometriosis

Whenever you notice any of the mentioned signs as a woman, you should visit the hospital for a proper check-up, as leaving it untreated can lead to complications. Complicated cases of endometriosis include;

• Ovarian cysts
• Increased chances of ovarian cancer
• Scar tissues
• Inflammation
• Infertility: This complication affects up to 50% of females living with endometriosis.

Treatment

No cure has been found for endometriosis. It can only be managed following some medications and even surgery. The following treatment or management methods are applied in endometriosis cases;

Pain medications to reduce cramps during menstruation.

Hormone therapy regulates the production of estrogen in the body. Some of these therapies may involve the use of birth control pills.

Surgery is usually carried out to take out the affected tissues in some cases. However, in severe cases of endometriosis, a surgery known as hysterectomy, which involves the removal of the major reproductive organs, is carried out. When this hysterectomy is carried out, pregnancy becomes a total impossibility.

Conclusion

Endometriosis is not curable, but it is not a hopeless condition, nor is it a death sentence. You should report symptoms early enough because visiting the hospital when you notice the symptoms,  no matter how mild, will help in the early detection and control of the condition.