Women Reproductive Health- As per the various conditions in women that can lead to infertility, many of these issues are silent in the early stages. Endometriosis is one of the most reported issues in women currently. The condition is clinically diagnosed through various approaches that include; histology, an MRI, and visualization.
Current studies indicate that 15% of women have undiagnosed endometriosis, with others being diagnosed with mild disease endometriosis and minimal.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis refers to a condition where the endometrial tissue that grows in the womb grows somewhere else outside. During the menstrual cycle, hormonal changes cause the lining of the uterus to thicken as it prepares for implantation. In case no fertilization occurs, the cells disintegrate shedding out through what is called the monthly period.
In case the endometrial tissue grows somewhere else, normally on the ovaries, pelvic region, and bowel, this makes it hard for the tissue to be expelled from the body leading to various symptoms due to the inflammation that occurs.
This inflammation usually develops in a scar tissue that affects one’s chances of natural conception.
How serious can the Condition Be?
Lena Dunham, a 31-year-old American actress has recently undergone a hysterectomy in which her uterus was removed. The actress, producer, and writer explained how she had to bear pain in the past several years due to endometriosis.
She explained that her pain was unbearable and hysterectomy seemed to be the ultimate choice for the pain she felt in years. However, the surgery isn’t a guarantee that one’s pain will disappear for good.
The actress also complained about various conditions such as retrograde bleeding, odd hump-like protrusion, and a septum running down the middle. To make matters worse, her ovary had settled on the muscles around the sacral nerves that allow movement.
Lena had previously undergone nine surgical procedures, hoping to be a mother one day, but due to the unimaginable pain, her uterus had to be removed. According to the doctor that worked on Lena, hysterectomy is necessary in extreme cases of endometriosis, whereas excision is the best approach for other endometriosis cases.
Causes of Endometriosis
According to scientists, the actual cause of endometriosis is unknown, but the below-mentioned factors could trigger the condition;
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Hormones
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Metaplasia
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Retrograde menstruation
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Immune dysfunction
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Lifestyle
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Environmental factors
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Genetics
Well, a majority of women have higher chances of developing endometriosis, but the severity differs. Minor cases are treated with drugs and management tips. Women who acquire endometriosis at a tender age, this could be due to genes.
Various Endometriosis Symptoms include
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Painful periods
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Abdominal pain
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Fatigue
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Back pain
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Bloody bowel movements
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Pain during sexual intercourse
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Infertility
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Irregular Periods
It must be noted that endometriosis is one of the leading causes of infertility. Therefore, regular gynecology check-ups are recommended for women in the reproductive age. A hysterectomy could be the best treatment approach, but not for women who have never had children before. Many of the women who finally undergo a hysterectomy after having children have a few or no regrets.