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Endometriosis
is a condition that occurs when
the internal area of the body
contains tissue that is nearly
identical to the tissue that
lines the uterus during menstruation
except that it is unable to
be discharged from the body
each month. The name "endometriosis"
is adopted from the medical
terms "endometrium"
and "endometrial tissue"
- which describes this inner
lining of the uterus that ebbs
and flows with the monthly menstrual
cycle.
In cases of endometriosis, the
endometrium - or endometrial
tissue - can be found in the
ovaries and tubes and on the
outer surfaces of the uterus,
bowel, bladder, and abdominal
muscles. Because this tissue
is normally found in the uterus,
it responds to the female hormones
that signal the menstruation
process by breaking apart and
secreting a fluid similar to
a woman's monthly period.
However, fluid flows freely
from the uterus during menstruation
while fluid from abnormal endometrial
tissue remains trapped inside
the body. The condition triggers
an immune system response where
the body's natural defenses
produce swelling around the
affected areas, try to reabsorb
the fluid into the circulatory
system, and form scar tissue
when the flow subsides at the
end of the menstrual cycle.
As this pattern repeats month
after month, the abnormal tissue
of endometriosis and resulting
scar tissue can bind together
the body's internal organs and
cause severe pain or infertility
in many cases.
WHO GETS ENDOMETRIOSIS?
Endometriosis strikes women
in the general age from 11 to
50 who have active reproductive
systems. It usually becomes
inactive at menopause. The crippling
effects of endometriosis are
seen most frequently in the
20 to 45 age group, and an estimated
5 million American women suffer
from the disease.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
A wide variety of problems and
the more common complaints of
menstruating women - such as
cramping - may be caused by
endometriosis. These include
chronic pelvic pain (in the
abdominal area), increasingly
painful menstrual periods, repeated
miscarriages, infertility, pain
during intercourse, irregular
menstrual cycles, painful bowel
movements during the period,
painful urination and related
problems during menstruation,
chronic fatigue, low resistance
to infections, and disabling
menstrual periods that inhibit
even the most minor activities.
Persistent pain is NOT a normal
side effect if menstruating
women.
HOW DO YOU DIAGNOSE
ENDOMETRIOSIS?
Endometriosis is diagnosed by
analyzing the patient's complete
medical history and lifetime
menstrual patterns and performing
a pelvic examination to detect
basic indicators of the disease.
But the only totally accurate
and thorough diagnosis requires
use of the procedure known as
"laparoscopy."
The laparoscopy, also called
a "laparoscopic procedure"
in broader terms, uses a tiny
light-transmitting telescopic
camera, or laparoscope, that
is inserted through a tiny cut
in the lower abdominal wall
while the patient is under anesthesia.
The scope transmits images of
the internal organs on a video
screen, enabling the physician
to view the area and determine
if endometriosis exists.
HOW IS ENDOMETRIOSIS TREATED?
Once it is diagnosed, endometriosis
has several treatment options,
depending on the case. Among
common treatment methods are
prescribing hormones and removing
the abnormal tissue with laparoscopic
procedures and using laser to
vaporize the endometriosis.
In addition, certain nerve fibers
can be cut - such as the uterosacral
or presacral nerves affecting
the abdominal area - to diminish
the sensation of pain. A successful
treatment program can also help
reduce infertility problems
associated with the disease.
Surgical procedures using lasers
typically produce less painful
effects afterwards, which enables
a quick recovery period.
Women's
Health Center of South Orange
County, Inc.
©1999,
James Carter, MD. All Rights
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26732 Crown Valley Parkway,
Suite 541. Mission Viejo, CA
92691
Phone:
949-364-5802
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