Endometriosis –Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Endometriosis is the abnormal growth of cells similar to those that form the inside or lining the tissue of the uterus, but in a location outside of the uterus. Endometriosis occurs when cells like the lining of the uterus grow in or on tissues outside the uterus; these areas are called endometriosis implants.

Endometriosis Causes

The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown, but possible causes include the following:

1.   Heavy bleeding or an abnormal structure of the uterus, cervix, or vagina causes too many endometrial cells to go up through the fallopian tubes and then into the belly. (This is called retrograde menstruation).
2.   Your immune system may not be getting rid of endometrial cells outside of the uterus like it should.
3.   Blood or lymph fluid may carry endometrial cells to other parts of the body. Or the cells may be moved during a surgery, such as an episiotomy or a cesarean delivery.
4.   Cells in the belly and pelvis may change into endometrial cells.
5.   Endometrial cells may have formed outside the uterus when you were a fetus.

Endometriosis Symptoms

Some women with endometriosis may experience no signs or symptoms. While in other cases, the symptoms may range from mild to severe, including:
Pelvic pain
Painful bowel movements during your period
Painful urination
Painful intercourse
Lower back pain
Heavy periods or spotting between periods
Severe abdominal pain before and after your period
Fatigue

Endometriosis Diagnosis

Based on symptoms of pelvic pain and findings during physical examinations, your doctor may suspect Endometriosis. And then the doctor may suggest a rectovaginal exam in which he can feel nodules (endometrial implants) behind the uterus and along the ligaments that attach to the pelvic wall. However, one can not rely upon the symptoms or the physical examinations to conclusively establish the diagnosis of endometriosis. In fact, surgery is believed to be the only accurate way of diagnosing endometriosis, either by opening the belly with large-incision laparotomy or small-incision laparoscopy.

Endometriosis Treatment

Medications and surgery can be used as endometriosis treatment and the goal is to relieve pain and enhance the infertility possibility. Treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are and whether you want to get pregnant.

1. Medications
Birth control hormones (patch, pills, or ring) or anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) medicines are the most common medications to relieve pain caused by endometriosis. However, hormones can relieve pain by disordering the normal hormone secretion in the body which will prevent ovulation and menstruation accordingly. And anti-inflammatories can only eliminate the inflammation to some extent and can't cure the disease from its nidus. Fortunately, there are alternative herbal therapies available for endometriosis patients, that's Fuyan Pill. Unlike most western drugs, Fuyan pill is totally extracted from herbs in the nature and processed free of contamination with rational compatibility, so it has no side effects and drug resistance as anti-inflammatories and hormones have.

2. Surgery
Surgery is the next step if hormone therapy doesn't work or if growths are affecting other organs. This can usually be done through one or more small incisions, using laparoscopy. Laparoscopy can improve pain and your chance for pregnancy. However, this surgery can causes early menopause and may be only used when you have no pregnancy plans and have had little relief from other treatments.