What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a disease affecting an estimated 77 million women and teens worldwide. It is a leading cause of infertility, chronic pelvic pain and hysterectomy. With Endometriosis, tissue like the endometrium (the tissue . . .

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a disease affecting an estimated 77 million women and teens worldwide. It is a leading cause of infertility, chronic pelvic pain and hysterectomy. With Endometriosis, tissue like the endometrium (the tissue inside the uterus which builds up and is shed each month during menses) is found outside the uterus, in other areas of the body. These implants respond to hormonal commands each month and break down and bleed. However, unlike the endometrium, these tissue deposits have no way of leaving the body. The result is internal bleeding, degeneration of blood and tissue shed from the growths, inflammation of the surrounding areas, expression of irritating enzymes and formation of scar tissue. In addition, depending on the location of the growths, interference with the bowel, bladder, intestines and other areas of the pelvic cavity can occur. Endometriosis has even been found lodged in the skin and at other extrapelvic locations like the arm, leg and even brain.

The presence of disease can only be confirmed through surgery like the laparoscopy, but it can be suspected based on symptoms, physical findings and diagnostic tests.

Often, younger women and teens who present to their healthcare providers with symptoms are dismissed and told they have PID or that they are too young to have Endometriosis. This is not the case. Endometriosis has been found in autopsies of infants and in menopausal women. Endometriosis has even been found in men.

Contrary to common misconceptions about the disease, there is no cure. There are, however, several methods of treatment which may alleviate some of the pain and symptoms.

Common Symptoms
* chronic or intermittent pelvic pain
* dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation is not normal!)
* infertility/ miscarriage(s) / ectopic (tubal) pregnancy
* dyspareunia (pain during intercourse) / pain after intercourse
* backache
* leg pain
* painful intercourse
* nausea / vomiting
* abdominal cramping
* diarrhea
* rectal pain
* constipation
* painful bowel movements
* blood in stool
* rectal bleeding
* sharp gas pains
* bloating
* tailbone pain
* blood in urine
* tenderness around the kidneys
* painful or burning urination
* flank pain radiating toward the groin
* urinary frequency, retention, or urgency
* hypertension
* coughing up of blood or bloody sputum, particularly coinciding with menses
* accumulation of air or gas in the chest cavity
* constricting chest pain and/or shoulder pain
* shoulder pain associated with menses
* shortness of breath
* collection of blood and/or pulmonary nodule in chest cavity
* deep chest pain
* pain in the leg and/or hip which radiates down the leg
* painful nodules, often visible to the naked eye, at the skin's surface...can bleed
during menses and/or appear blue upon inspection; and
* fatigue, chronic pain, allergies and other immune system-related problems.
Remember, it is quite possible to have some, all, or none of these symptoms
with Endometriosis.

Because Endo symptoms are so inconsistent and non-specific, it can easily masquerade as several other conditions. These include:

* adenomyosis ("Endometriosis Interna")
* appendicitis
* ovarian cysts
* bowel obstructions
* colon cancer
* diverticulitis
* ectopic pregnancy
* fibroid tumors
* gonorrhea
* inflammatory bowel disease
* irritable bowel syndrome
* ovarian cancer
* PID (pelvic inflammatory disease)