Endometriosis is a common and often painful disease where the tissue that lines the uterus (womb) grows outside this layer and occasionally to other parts of the body. Endometriosis affects one in ten Australian women and is commonly known for causing chronic pelvic pain, abnormal periods, and/or infertility. This disease can be found in women of different ages but often starts in the teenage years.
Healthy endometrial tissue sheds during a menstrual cycle. However, if you have endometriosis, this tissue does not shed and instead builds up outside the uterus, causing scarring and painful cysts.
While there is no known cure for endometriosis, the good news is that effective treatments are available.
Before we discuss the treatment options available, here’s a glance at the symptoms.
Endometriosis symptoms
One of the primary symptoms of endometriosis is pelvic pain. An estimated 75% of women with endometriosis suffer from chronic pain. The pain usually occurs when a woman has her period.
The most common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Severe pain during or around your period
- Pain during or around ovulation
- Pain during or after sex
- Pain with bowel movements
- Pain when urinating
- Pain in your pelvic region, lower back or legs
- Having trouble controlling a full bladder
- Heavy or irregular bleeding
Causes of endometriosis
While the exact cause is unknown, a theory is that the backward flow of menstrual bleeding through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvis, also known as retrograde menstruation, may be the reason. But considering a small degree of retrograde flow occurs in nine out of ten women, doctors understand this cannot be the only cause.
There are a few other possible factors that may increase the risks, including:
- If your mother or sister has it.
- Starting your period at a very early age (before age eleven).
- Delayed onset of menopause at an older age.
- Short menstrual cycles (less than 27 days).
- Frequently long and heavy periods that last more than seven days.
- Reproductive tract blockages or other ailments affect blood flow out of the body.
Treatment options for endometriosis
There are two types of treatments available for endometriosis. Which one is most suited for you will depend on
- The location of the endometriosis,
- how much we find, and,
- If you are family planning
The treatment options include:
- Hormonal treatment– used to control the pain by suppressing the endometrial cells. Hormonal treatment may involve using
– contraceptive pills
– progestogens
– gestrinone or danazol
– Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
- Surgical treatment– This may include one of the following and, unlike drug treatments, can help maintain and improve fertility.
– Laparoscopy (keyhole)
– Laparotomy (open surgery)
– Hysterectomy (only in severe long-term painful cases as a last resort)
Consulting with Dr Kothari
If you or anyone you know suffers from endometriosis and has either been recommended or is considering surgical treatment but is unsure, call us on 02 4225 1999 to book an appointment and have your questions answered.
Before moving ahead with treatment, Dr Kothari will discuss what options are available for you, depending on your condition. He will advise on the possible side effects or complications that may arise and outline any advantages and disadvantages to all types of treatments. As there is currently no cure for endometriosis, it is important to find the most appropriate treatment to help relieve any pain or symptoms of this disease.