Endometriosis & Pregnancy - Background

Endometriosis is a condition where tissues normally lining a woman’s uterus grow or attach to organs located outside. During the menstrual period itself, the uterual lining normally sheds by itself but the part that grows outside of the uterus stays. Throughout the ovulation to menstruation phase, the uterual tissue becomes constantly provoked. It can get torn, break down and bleed. This could lead to scar tissue formation and some pain and discomfort.

In the United States, the Endometriosis Research Center reports that there are over 7 million cases of endometriosis among women. It is a key cause of gynecologic surgeries, chronic pelvin discomfort, and infertility.

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What Leads To Endometriosis?

Presently, the cause of endometriosis remains unknown, but experts have suggested a few possible reasons. Recent studies point that the condition may be genetic.

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Symptoms

Common symptoms of endometriosis would include, chronic pelvic pain, pain in the lower back, dysmenorrhea, irregalur or heavy breathing, and fatigue. Women can also expect to feel some pain while ovulating or having sexual intercourse, painful bowel movements, and GI tract conditions like diarrhea, constipation, or bloating. In cases that are severe, endometriosis may cause infertility.

Diagnosis

The only sure method to diagnose endometriosis is through surgery. Similar diagnostic tests like CAT scans, MRIs, or ultrasound do not usually bear conclusive results. A healthcare practitioner needs to look into the signs and symptoms, as well as the patient’s medical history. In order to diagnose the problem, the doctor may opt to conduct a laparotomy or a laparoscopy.

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Endometriosis Cure?

Endometriosis has yet to find a cure, but doctors suggest certain methods of treatment to help with its management.

Treatment

Methods to manage endometriosis include:

Pain Medication

Medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin, which are available over-the-counter, are used to decrease discomfort and pain. It this does not work, one may need to take prescription drugs.

Hormonal Drug Therapy

Hormone drugs can be used to block a patient’s ovulation. The key here is to stop the further provocation of the lesions and to protect oneself against the onset of other related problems. These medications include oral contraceptives, GnRH agonists and progesterone drugs. Hormone therapy is performed particularly on patients who have come from surgery.

Surgery

Doctors usually determine the diagnosis following conservative surgeries like a laparotomy or laparoscopy and often pass through these procedures to extract abnormal growths. If this succeeds, it could help eliminate the pain and even raise the woman’s chances of conceiving.

If traditional surgical procedures prove ineffective, doctors have the option to perform a hysterectomy or other more invasive procedures.

Alternative/Natural Therapy

A lot of patients prefer alternative or natural treatments against surgical procedures and medications. Some of the common and more popular natural treatments are acupuncture, Chinese medicaine, and nutrition-based programs like fertility herbs. There is a significant amount of anecdotal evidence in support of these natural therapies which aim to “do no harm” while stimulating the body’s inherent defense and recovery mechanisms to heal itself.