Causes and Treatments For Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where womb lining grows outside of the womb, for instance, in the ovaries or fallopian tubes. It can also grow in the intestines, bladder, abdominal cavity, and rarely, even in other parts of the body like the lungs, kidneys and liver.
If the ovaries or fallopian tubes are affected, this can cause infertility. The misplaced womb lining can cause scarring and adhesions which can be extremely painful.
Symptoms are: Infertility, painful periods, painful intercourse, pelvic pain, swollen abdomen, vaginal bleeding not associated with a period, bleeding rectum, burning pain during urination, constipation, exhaustion, and infertility. There may be other symptoms like leg cramping as well.
Why do women get endometriosis?
Doctors don't really know why this occurs, but they have several theories:
Incomplete menstruation: where some of the blood is retained in the body and travels up the fallopian tubes, where it then attachs itself and forms womb lining.
Immune System Fault: where the immune system is not functioning as it should. Normally this system would eliminate unwanted cells from the body.
Blood and Circulatory System: where the womb cells are carried in the blood and deposited to other parts of the body.
Genetics: Some doctors theorise that there is a genetic component and some people may get it due to a family history.
Environment: Women who smoke are more at risk of having it, as are people with poor diets, those with stress/depression and women who put off having children until later in life.
What can be done to help endometriosis-related infertility?
Sometimes a doctor may recommend a short course of contraceptive pill, if you have excessive bleeding and pain. This can regulate your cycle before any infertility treatment begins.
They can also surgically remove the extra womb lining - for instance, if you have endometriosis in your tubes, to unblock them and allow ovulation. Cysts can be removed using laser treatment.
Using donor eggs or having your eggs taken directly from the ovaries and implanted into the womb may be an option if you have blocked tubes.
There are also drugs which control the spread of endometriol tissue, but as these can also create a mini-menopause, it is worth having a consultation with your doctor if you are planning a family.
