Disclaimer: This is an opinion article for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listeners should consult their healthcare providers before making any decisions about diagnosis or treatment.
What is Endometriosis? Endometriosis happens when tissue like the lining of the womb (uterus) grows in places it does not belong — like ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other parts of pelvis. Rarely it show up in places far from womb, like lungs or surgical scars.
This tissue behaves like it would inside the womb — it reacts to monthly hormonal changes, swells, & bleeds during periods. But because it is trapped outside the womb, it can cause pain, swelling, and sometimes scar tissue.
Why Does It Happen? Doctors are not sure why endometriosis develops. One theory is retrograde menstruation — where some menstrual blood flows backward into the pelvis instead of out of the body. These cells then stick to other tissues & grow. It mostly affects women who are having regular periods and have working ovaries. — Pregnancy and breastfeeding often ease symptoms because periods stop for a while. Endometriosis disappears after menopause.
How Common is It? Exact number is not known, because many women have no symptoms. 1 in 3 women with endometriosis have trouble getting pregnant. 1 in 3 women with fertility problems have endometriosis.
What Are the Symptoms? Some women are asymptomatic. In others, endometriosis can cause: — Very painful periods — Pain during or after sex — Difficulty getting pregnant — Pain when passing stools or urine (especially during periods) — Ongoing pelvic pain
It is important to remember these symptoms can be caused by other conditions too.
Does It Cause Infertility? This is debatable. In some cases, scar tissue or adhesions from endometriosis can block fallopian tubes or affect the ovaries, making pregnancy harder. In many women, the link between endometriosis & infertility is unclear. Some experts even suggest infertility can sometimes lead to endometriosis rather than the other way around.
How is it Diagnosed? The only sure way to confirm endometriosis is through laparoscopy. Even then, samples are taken and usually checked under a microscope to be sure.
Scans like ultrasound can detect endometriomas (a type of cyst caused by endometriosis), but they can miss smaller or hidden spots.
Treatment Options: Treatment depends on whether the main problem is pain, infertility, or both.
1. Hormonal treatments (such as birth control pills, progestins, or hormone-blocking injections) can relieve pain but usually prevent ovulation, making them unsuitable for those trying to conceive. — Surgery can remove endometriosis patches, but symptoms can return. Surgery is advised when there’s severe pain, bowel or urinary blockage, or suspicion of cancer.
2. For infertility, mild cases may be addressed with fertility treatments such as ovulation stimulation and intrauterine insemination (IUI). — For severe cases or if other treatments fail, IVF is usually the best choice. — Removing endometriomas before IVF does not usually improve success rates & may reduce egg numbers, so it is often avoided unless necessary.
Living with Endometriosis: Endometriosis is frustrating; it is unpredictable — symptoms can be mild, severe, or even disappear on their own. The key is to tailor treatment to the woman’s main concerns — pain, fertility, or both & avoid unnecessary delays in trying for pregnancy when that is the goal.
One important takeaway from recent research: “Treat infertility directly rather than focusing first on removing every spot of endometriosis.”
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