What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease that is commonly found in women. It takes place when the tissue lining inside the uterus grows outside of it. Endometriosis can be found in the lining of the pelvis, ovaries, or fallopian tubes. Endometriosis is extremely rare in organs that are beyond the pelvic region. Endometriosis can be very painful. The endometrial tissue growing outside of the uterus will behave exactly like the endometrial tissues that are found inside the uterus. During menstruation, the tissues will expand and fall off both inside and outside the uterus. The tissues outside the uterus do not have an outlet. This causes bleeding and inflammation. The pain caused by endometriosis can be unbearable during menstruation.
Laparoscopic surgery
If the initial treatments are not working then surgery might be advised. If the patient wants to get pregnant, then surgically removing the endometrial implants will increase their chances of conceiving. In most cases, the surgery is done laparoscopically. However, in severe cases of endometriosis, traditional open surgery might have to be done. In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes a small incision in the abdomen of the patient and then inserts a laparoscope. The surgeon makes another incision and then by using other tools, removes the endometrial tissues. A hysterectomy was considered the ideal treatment for endometriosis previously. However, the world of medical science is moving away from this approach.
- PROCEDURE NAME : Laparoscopic surgery
- SURGERY TYPE: Minimally Invasive Laser
- HOSPITALIZATION: No Hospitalisation
- SURGERY DURATION: 30 minutes
- ANAESTHESIA: Spinal Block / General Anaesthesia
- FULL RECOVERY: 3 - 4 days
TREATMENTS
Diagnosis
Endometriosis is suspected by listening to the symptoms of the patient. The medical professional will enquire about the symptoms experienced by the patients. It is likely that the patient will have to undergo a pelvic exam. During a pelvic exam, the health care professional will manually feel the areas inside the pelvis. The doctor might be able to feel the cysts, abnormalities, or scars behind the uterus. Imaging tests are done to see the inside of the body. Imaging tests such as ultrasound scans, MRI, etc are done. Another procedure done to diagnose endometriosis is a laparoscopy. The surgeon will make a small incision near the patient’s navel and insert a laparoscope to look for endometrial tissue that might be growing outside the uterus. Laparoscopy will help the doctor understand the exact position and size of the endometrial tissues.
Surgery
The main treatments for endometriosis are medication and surgery. The medical professional determines the mode of the treatment according to what type of endometriosis the patient has and how severe their condition is. It is likely that the patient will have to try medication and hormone therapy to get rid of endometriosis. However, in some cases, this doesn’t work out and then surgery will be advised. The doctor will prescribe pain relievers to get rid of the cramps caused by endometriosis. Nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs will be given to decrease the inflammation caused by endometriosis. The doctors might also suggest taking hormonal therapy along with pain medication. But this is in cases where the patient is not trying to conceive. In hormone therapy, supplemental hormones are introduced to the patient’s body. They might help in reducing or getting rid of the pain experienced by the patient. The hormones will also prevent the growth of endometrial tissues or prevent new implants from growing. However, hormone therapy is not a permanent fix for endometriosis, it might come back when the patient stops hormone therapy. If the initial treatments are not working then surgery might be advised. If the patient wants to get pregnant, then surgically removing the endometrial implants will increase their chances of conceiving. In most cases, the surgery is done laparoscopically. However, in severe cases of endometriosis, traditional open surgery might have to be done. In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes a small incision in the abdomen of the patient and then inserts a laparoscope. The surgeon makes another incision and then by using other tools, removes the endometrial tissues. A hysterectomy was considered the ideal treatment for endometriosis previously. However, the world of medical science is moving away from this approach.
Causes
- Straining too much while bowel movement
Symptoms
- Discomfort while sitting
- Painful bowel movements
- Painful while constipation
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I avoid if I have endometriosis?
It would be best to avoid alcohol, caffeine fatty meats, etc as they will increase the inflammation.
What is endometriosis?
When the endometrium that lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of it, it is called endometriosis. The endometrial tissues pile up inside the uterus during menstruation and fall off, suggesting that the person is not pregnant. The endometrial tissue outside the uterus will expand and fall off in response to the hormonal fluctuations that occur during menstruation inside the body. That will result in internal bleeding in the pelvis. This will cause the area to become inflamed.
What are the major symptoms of endometriosis?
The major symptoms exhibited by endometriosis are pelvic pain and extremely painful menstrual cramps.
What causes endometriosis?
Retrograde menstruation, peritoneal cell transformation, genetics, immune disorders, endometrial cell transport, etc are some of the major causes of endometriosis.
Does endometriosis require medical attention?
Yes. endometriosis can be very painful and can lead to complications. Seek medical help if you think you have endometriosis.
