Endometriosis can affect any woman of reproductive age, from the start of their first period (menarche) until menopause (Image: Shutterstock)
A misplaced endometrial tissue can cause pain and scarring, which can lead to a range of symptoms such as painful periods, pelvic pain, pain during sex, and infertility.
Endometriosis is a medical condition that affects the female reproductive system. It occurs when tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus, called the endometrium, grows outside the organ, often on tissues of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or pelvis. Misplaced endometrial tissue can cause pain, swelling, and scarring, which can lead to symptoms such as painful periods, pelvic pain, pain during sex, and infertility.
Endometriosis can affect any woman of reproductive age, from the onset of their first period (menarche) through menopause. While there is no cure for the medical problem, treatment options are available to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
But first, it’s important to understand the symptoms behind the condition and how it can be diagnosed.
Cause:
According to the World Health Organization, endometriosis is a multifactorial disease that affects a significant number of women worldwide. Although the exact cause of endometriosis is unknown, there are several factors that are believed to play a role in its development.
- Retrograde menstruation occurs when menstrual blood, carrying endometrial cells, flows back into the pelvic cavity through the fallopian tubes. This can cause cells to accumulate outside the uterus where they can implant and develop.
- Cellular metaplasia occurs when cells change from one type to another. In this case, the cells outside the uterus turn into endometrial-like cells, which start growing.
- Stem cells are capable of causing endometriosis, which then spreads through the body through blood and lymph vessels.
Symptom:
According to the National Health Service, the symptoms of endometriosis are not always the same for every woman and can vary in their severity. Some women may experience significant symptoms, while others may not have any noticeable signs.
Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain, or lower back pain, especially during periods. The pain can be severe enough to prevent normal activities. Pain during or after intercourse is another common symptom, as is pain during urination or bowel movements during menstruation. Some women may also experience nausea, constipation, diarrhea, or blood in the urine or stool during menstruation. Difficulty getting pregnant is another sign of endometriosis.
Heavy periods can be another indicator of endometriosis. In some cases, endometriosis can have a significant impact on a woman’s life and can lead to depression.
Diagnosis:
Doctors may suspect endometriosis based on the symptoms you report or the findings of medical tests. To confirm the diagnosis, they may use a few tools, including laparoscopy and biopsy, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen and inserts a thin tube with a light and a camera to view the tissues around the uterus. This allows the doctor to examine the area for any signs of endometrial tissue growth.
A biopsy may be done if the doctor finds suspicious tissue during laparoscopy. A small instrument is used to extract some cells from the affected area, which are then sent to a laboratory for analysis. A pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope to confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis.
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