All Posts tagged Endometriosis symptoms

What you need to know about endometriosis

endometriosisEndometriosis is a painful reproductive disease that affects 176 million women across the globe. It is the leading cause of infertility, and chronic pelvic pain, and has been linked to other such complicated and painful conditions as adenomyosis, fibroids, interstitial cystitis, some cancers, and other autoimmune disorders. For the millions of women who suffer painfully with endometriosis, each year we recognize the month of March with a focus on endometriosis education and awareness. Together, with more knowledge of this painful condition and more support for treatment research, we can all work together toward an eventual cure and can start to reduce the number of women suffering from this disease.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis occurs when uterine tissue, known as the endometrium, develops outside of the uterus. Often, the tissue grows inside the pelvic cavity and around the reproductive organs, such as the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes. It may also develop around the uterosacral ligaments, the peritoneum, or in the areas between the rectum, uterus, and vagina, or bladder. In more rare occurrences, the endometrium may develop around the appendix, bladder, bowels, intestines, or rectum.

Doctors do not know what ultimately causes the growth of the endometrium outside of the uterus. This internal condition often goes unnoticed or misdiagnosed and mistreated when it presents itself in the form of painful periods.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of endometriosis may include:

  • Painful periods that include pelvic cramping that begins before your period and lasts after it has ended.
  • Lower back and abdominal pain that accompanies the pelvic pain surrounding menstruation.
  • Pain during or after sex.
  • Pain during urination and bowel movements, particularly during menstruation.
  • Extremely heavy period bleeding (known as menorrhagia), or bleeding between periods.
  • Infertility.
  • Fatigue.
  • Diarrhea or constipation.
  • Bloating or nausea, particularly during menstruation.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Too often, women do not question the pain they experience during their periods or sex. Sometimes they mistakenly assume the discomfort is normal, or they are uncomfortable discussing their symptoms with their doctor. For this reason, endometriosis often goes undiagnosed and untreated until women are trying to get pregnant and experience infertility complications. If you are suffering from any of the symptoms above, and believe you may have developed endometriosis, talk to your OBGYN. He or she will diagnose the cause of your pain because no woman should have to suffer in silence.

Supporting Endometriosis Awareness Month

If you or a loved one are suffering from endometriosis, its painful symptoms, or its infertility complications, there are ways to become involved with efforts to raise support and awareness this month. On March 24, a worldwide Endometriosis March will take place in cities around the world. Visit endomarch.org to find a march near you, or for more information on becoming involved with support efforts in your community.

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What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis-wnyobgynEndometriosis is a common health problem in women and girls. In fact, this painful, chronic disease affects at least 6.3 million women and girls in the United States, 1 million in Canada, and millions more worldwide. Endometriosis can occur in any teen or woman who has menstrual periods.

What is it?

Endometriosis (pronounced en-doh-mee-tree-OH-suhs) gets its name from the word endometrium (en-doh-MEE-tree-um), the tissue that lines the uterus or womb. Endometriosis occurs when this tissue grows outside of the uterus on other organs or structures in the body.

Most often, endometriosis is found on the:

  • Ovaries
  • Fallopian tubes
  • Tissues that hold the uterus in place
  • Outer surface of the uterus
  • Lining of the pelvic cavity

It can also grow spread to the vagina, cervix, vulva, bowel, bladder or rectum.

How do I know if I have endometriosis?

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, or the lower back, mainly during menstrual periods.

Why?

The misplaced tissue develops into growths or lesions that respond to the menstrual cycle in the same way that the endometrium does: each month the tissue builds up, breaks down, and sheds. Menstrual blood flows from the uterus and out of the body through the vagina, but the blood and tissue shed from endometrial growths has no way of leaving the body. This results in internal bleeding, breakdown of the blood and tissue from the lesions, and inflammation — and can cause pain, infertility, scar tissue formation, adhesions, and bowel problems.

Symptoms of endometriosis can include:

  • Very painful menstrual cramps
  • Chronic pain in the lower back and pelvis
  • Pain during or after sex
  • Intestinal pain
  • Painful bowel movements or painful urination during menstrual periods
  • Spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods
  • Infertility or not being able to get pregnant
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or nausea, especially during menstrual periods

What should I do if I think I have endometriosis?

Visit your doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes endometriosis is mistaken for other health problems that cause pelvic pain and the exact cause might be hard to pinpoint.

The only way for your doctor to know for sure that you have endometriosis is to perform a minor surgical procedure called a laparoscopy (lap-ar-OS-ko-pee) on you.  Performed under anesthesia, a laparoscopy will allow your doctor to see the location, size, and extent of any endometrial growths. This will help you and your doctor make better treatment choices.

At Chouchani, Sayegh and Bagnarello OBGYN, we are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. If you would like to know more about this condition or what you can do about it, please contact us any time.  We are a premier OBGYN practice in Buffalo with locations in Kenmore, Alden and Willamsville.

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