Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a very painful condition and in fact, it can be one of the leading causes of infertility among women. It is important to understand what endometriosis is and how you can experience relief from some of the symptoms and problems associated with the disorder.

First of all, endometriosis is a condition brought about when the tissue that lines the uterus is found outside of the uterine walls. Generally this tissue, called endometrium, is found in the abdomen, fallopian tubes, and the muscles surrounding the uterus. It can also be found between the vagina and rectum, pelvic cavity, bladder, bowel, cervix, vulva, or on abdominal surgical scares.

Endometriosis is a condition that affects more than five million women all over the world. The pain is due to the development of lesions from the extraneous tissue. During a normal menstrual cycle, a woman builds up tissue, breaks it down, and sheds it along with the unfertilized egg. This causes the bleeding during menstruation. The problem with endometriosis is that the tissue building in other areas of the body has no way to shed and leave the body. Often internal bleeding and inflammation will occur as a result of this growth of tissue. The women who suffer from endometriosis generally develop scar tissue in their bodies from the tissue and lesions. They may also suffer from bowel problems as they are more prone to hemorrhoids, constipation or bleeding from the bowels.

There are other symptoms women may experience when they have endometriosis including pain before and during periods, pain during sex, infertility, fatigue, painful urination during periods, painful bowel movements during periods, diarrhea and nausea. Understanding the symptoms of endometriosis is just half of the equation. You also need to know what causes the problem.

Currently there are only theories as to the cause of endometriosis. One theory suggests that during menstruation the tissue backs up rather than shedding and then connects to the abdomen where it continues to grow. Other theories involve the immune system having a deficiency that causes the back up that occurs

For those who suffer from endometriosis or believe they may have a problem there is only one way to completely prove the condition. While a physician may be able to do an ultrasound and an exam to determine that there is a problem, laparoscopy, a minor surgical procedure, is the only concrete way where the doctor can look inside to determine the extent of the problem.

Once endometriosis has been diagnosed, surgery is often required to alleviate the pain. During the surgical procedure the extra tissue is removed. Sometimes a patient may have to have surgery a few times in their life to alleviate the condition. If you are trying to become pregnant and you have endometriosis you may need to have surgery before you will be successful in conceiving.

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