Endometriosis is a disease of the female reproductive system. It is often painful and many times is hard to diagnose. In fact a definitive diagnosis cannot be made except by undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue that lines the uterus makes its way to the abdominal cavity and implants of the organs there. In most cases the endometrial cells implant on the ovaries, fallopian tubes and large intestine. In rare cases the endometriosis may spread upward into the sternum and chest cavity.
This endometrial tissue reacts the same way to the woman?s monthly menstrual cycle as the lining of the uterus, except that when it sloughs off the nutrient rich blood at the start of her period it has nowhere to go and accumulates in the abdominal cavity. It is this monthly cycle of the endometrial cells and blood accumulation that causes the many symptoms of endometriosis.
The trapped blood irritates the abdominal tissue which can create cysts. These cysts can bleed or burst and form scar tissue and adhesions. This scar tissue and adhesions can actually tie the internal organs together causing pain and discomfort, particularly during a woman?s period.
This pelvic pain is the most common symptom associated with endometriosis. Many women associate this pain with their period but do not realize that it is caused by endometriosis. In fact, some women with endometriosis experience little to no pain while others experience severe pain.
The other interesting thing about endometriosis is that the amount of endometrial tissue growing in the abdomen has little bearing on the amount of pain a woman may experience. It has been found that women with large amounts of endometriosis in their abdomen may have few symptoms and those with a small amount of endometrial tissue suffer from severe pain.
Even though many women experience the symptoms of endometriosis during their time of menstruation many others suffer from the constant pain and discomfort no matter what time of the month it is.
Many women also experience pain during or after sex. This pain can get to the point where these women quit having sex and in some cases the pain can be so great that it becomes impossible for these women to have intercourse.
Dysmenorrhea Painful Menstrual Periods is another symptom of endometriosis where the women experiences deep pain in the lower abdomen and vagina. This does not affect all women with endometriosis though.
Because the endometrial tissue can become attached to non-reproductive organs such as the large intestine or bladder abdominal swelling can occur. These women can also experience painful bowel movements, painful urination, bleeding from the rectum and nausea or vomiting before their period begins.
Fatigue is a major symptom of endometriosis. The constant pain and discomfort combined with the bodies fight to rid itself of the trapped menstrual fluid does cause extreme exhaustion. As the endometrial tissue grows and expands in the abdominal cavity it causes greater and greater fatigue. Women who suffer from endometriosis also run a greater chance of getting chronic fatigue syndrome.
If you suffer from any of these endometriosis symptoms or think you may have endometriosis it is important that you schedule an appointment with your gynecologist.
