Endometriosis is a chronic and painful disease affecting women of reproductive age. In this article, learn about what endometriosis is, the symptoms of endometriosis, causes and risk factors, and treatment options available to you.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a very uncomfortable condition in which endometrial-like tissue begins growing outside of your uterus. Since this is the same tissue responsible for breaking down and releasing blood during your menstrual period, it can cause pain and other issues, particularly during your period.

This condition can result in irritated tissue, cysts, scarring, or lesions. Endometriosis varies in severity and can range from displaying no symptoms whatsoever to chronic pain and discomfort.

The best way to find out whether or not you have developed endometriosis is by consulting your OBGYN. They can typically diagnose the condition by examining physical clues. Your doctor may perform a pelvic exam, ultrasound, MRI, or a laparoscopy in order to find evidence of endometrial tissue/implants.

Symptoms of Endometriosis

Pain

Pain can occur during the menstrual cycle, during sex, during bowel movements, or during urination. Although some discomfort and cramping are normal during a period, patients with endometriosis often describe their period pain as much worse than what is considered typical. These period pains may also be accompanied by excessive menstrual bleeding. Pain can occur during sex due to inflamed endometrial tissue, which reduces elasticity, resulting in pulling or stabbing pain during intercourse. It is common for pain to occur during bowel movements or urination while the individual is on their period.

Abnormal Periods

With endometriosis, irregular menstrual cycles can affect your life every month. Abnormal periods are not limited to painful periods. It is also accompanied by heavy flow, digestive issues, pelvic pain, leg pain, headaches, and fatigue.

Infertility

Endometriosis can cause infertility in women due to increased inflammation, anatomical distortion, and poor egg quality. In some cases, endometriosis is found during tests for infertility treatment.

Causes of Endometriosis

There is no definitive answer yet on what causes endometriosis. Although it is a commonly occurring condition in women and is relatively diagnosable, doctors have yet to pinpoint exactly what triggers it.

Having said that, recent research has suggested that a family history of endometriosis and heavy periods (that last longer than 7 days) might be risk factors for developing the disease.

Some popular theories regarding what may cause endometriosis are:

  • Retrograde menstruation – One of the most popular theories regarding the source of endometriosis, this hypothesis suggests that menstrual blood that flows back into the fallopian tubes disperses endometrial cells.
  • Transformation of cells – Some doctors have suggested that cells outside of your uterus simply transform into endometrial cells and continue growing.
  • Faults in the immune system – Yet another theory is that the condition is simply the effect of a fault in our immune system that doesn’t eliminate errant endometrial cells.

What Are The Types Of Endometriosis?

Doctors use different stages and types to describe the severity and location of endometriosis. The exact categories and descriptions do vary a bit depending on the association, but they are generally similar.

Here are the 4 categories of endometriosis used to describe the location and organs being affected:

Category 1 – Peritoneal Endometriosis. The mildest form of this condition occurs when Endometriosis affects the abdominal lining.

Category 2 – Chocolate Cysts. Endometriosis cysts are already established in the ovaries; there is often a risk that they will rupture and spread the disease further.

Category 3 – Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis 1 (DIE I). This is a more severe form of endometriosis; when the tissue has infiltrated organs within the pelvic cavity (such as your ovaries, uterus, or rectum).

Category 4 – Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis 2 (DIE II). The more severe form of DIE is when the endometriosis has invaded organs outside of the pelvic cavity and can affect your bowels, diaphragm, lungs, etc.

Another common way to classify endometriosis cases is by using the scale developed by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Below are the stages as broken down by this methodology:

Stage 1 – Minimal, just a few superficial implants.

Stage 2 – Mild, with more implants than stage 1, and there may be some mild lesions.

Stage 3 – Moderate, with many deep implants and small cysts on the ovaries.

Stage 4 – Severe, with many deep implants and large cysts on the ovaries.

Endometriosis Treatment

There are a variety of treatments that doctors use to combat endometriosis and the pain associated with the condition. Treatments range from at-home remedies for minor cases to surgery for more moderate to severe conditions.

Pain Medication

For pain and cramps associated with your menstrual cycle, your doctor may recommend some common over-the-counter medications such as Ibuprofen or Advil.

Hormone Therapy

A non-invasive and fairly straightforward option, hormone therapy has been found to be effective at reducing pain and slowing down the growth of endometrial tissue. This treatment is a temporary fix, however, and symptoms are likely to return after you stop taking the medication.

Surgery

A laparoscopic surgery is a common minimally invasive procedure used to remove endometriosis implants and ease symptoms. More invasive surgeries, such as abdominal surgeries and hysterectomies, are also a possibility, although significantly less common.

What Are Some Natural Remedies For Endometriosis?

Your doctor is also likely to give you several daily at-home treatments to help ease your pain (which will likely be used in combination with other treatments).

Try drawing a warm bath and using a heating pad to reduce pain and cramps. As mentioned earlier, properly taken over-the-counter medication can also help ease symptoms. Massages and other relaxing treatments can also be used. If any at-home remedies for menstrual discomfort usually work for you, those could be worth a try as well.

Keep in mind, however, that it’s best to get medical advice from a doctor and that you should never put your health at risk by avoiding medical treatment. At-home treatments are not a substitute for surgery or other medical procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions about Endometriosis

Can PCOS Cause Endometriosis?

Numerous studies have found close links between PCOS and endometriosis. This, however, does not mean that either causes the other; it only means that they are often found in the same patient. Due to this, it may be a good idea for diagnosed PCOS patients to immediately mention any symptoms of endometriosis to their OBGYN.

Is It Common For Endometriosis To Occur Inside The Bladder?

One of the most common questions regarding endometriosis is how often this condition affects the bladder area. The short answer is that bladder endometriosis is rare. According to one study, only about 6% of all endometriosis cases are categorized as bladder endometriosis.

Does Endometriosis Cause Infertility?

According to John Hopkins Medicine, endometriosis is, in fact, considered one of the three major causes of infertility in women. It is still unclear exactly why endometriosis and infertility are so closely linked, but some doctors do think that it may be due to interference with the release of the egg or the change in pelvic environment.

What Is It Like Suffering From Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition that is typically accompanied by chronic pain and, as such, can have an overwhelming impact on your life. Keep in mind, however, that there are several treatments that can help alleviate symptoms of this condition. Depending on the severity of your condition, over-the-counter medication or surgical intervention can help reduce its impact on your life. Furthermore, there are several great resources available to help with the emotional burden of chronic pain. Support groups have become more popular than ever and can often be found on Facebook or through local organizations.

Cool Springs OBGYN

If you are experiencing symptoms of endometriosis, such as abnormal pelvic pain, or are otherwise worried that you may have endometriosis, please schedule an appointment with an OBGYN.

Cool Springs Obstetrics & Gynecology has been providing women’s healthcare services for over 20 years. We value our relationship with the local community and are proud to be a cornerstone of women’s healthcare in the Tennessee area. Cool Springs serves patients throughout Franklin, Brentwood, and the surrounding areas in Williamson County.

Our practice offers a variety of gynecological services- whether you’re looking for a routine exam, preventative care, or treatment for a condition. As for treatment, here at Cool Springs OBGYN, we offer both in-office and outpatient procedures, including minimally invasive surgeries. That means that we are your one-stop shop for all your gynecological concerns. If you find out that your pelvic pain is, in fact, due to endometriosis, we can counsel you on the next steps and recommend a treatment option. In the event that you are concerned about the impact of endometriosis on your ability to have children, our office even offers fertility testing and treatments.

Not only that, but our office also offers hormone replacement therapy and aesthetic services, including body contouring.

Feel free to call or schedule your appointment online today. We look forward to seeing you in our office!