Endometriosis is a painful disease. This disease develops when the endometrial-like tissue acts as a wound; thus, it thickens and bleeds at the time of menstruation. But it does not find any exit and gets trapped, forming underlining. It grows inside the uterus, and the endometrium grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis can develop in your fallopian tubes, ovaries, and in the lining of the pelvis. In extreme situations, Endometriosis can grow an infertility problem. Endometriosis can cause severe pain at the time of menstruation.
There are mainly three categories of Endometriosis; it is as follows:
The common signs that you may notice while suffering from Endometriosis are:
If you notice an issue mentioned above in your body, you should visit the doctor. It is not a rule that you may experience extreme pain for the problem to be severe. It is also possible that you have extreme Endometriosis even though you have mild pain. The intensity of your pain does not decide the severity of the problem.
You can mistake Endometriosis with other problems like irritable bowel syndrome or ovarian cyst, or pelvic inflammatory disease. Since these diseases also have the same symptoms as diarrhea, extreme abdominal pain, and constipation. But this does not mean you should ignore it. A doctor’s consultation can help prevent the serious issue.
The causes of Endometriosis are not specific but might develop due to the following reason:
Endometriosis can create a lot of complications in a women’s life. Some women enter depression and anxiety because of it. About one-fourth of the women who experience infertility issues have the issue of Endometriosis.
The inflammation caused can damage the egg or sperm or weaken their capability to fertilize. It can also make the eggs hard to transport. However, it can get treated with proper medical help. In some cases, there is a blockage in the fallopian tube because of scar tissue. Some women also experience ovarian cancer or cancer relating to Endometriosis called endometriosis-associated adenocarcinoma.
There are several risk factor associated with Endometriosis, as mentioned below:
There are four stages of Endometriosis:
Stage 1 is minimal here; you have fewer lesions and no scar tissue.
Stage 2 is mild; here, you have a few more lesions but still no scar tissue. They develop in about a two-inch area of the abdomen.
Stage 3 is moderate; here, the lesion has grown deep, containing scar tissue, and developed in the fallopian tube and the ovaries.
Stage 4 is severe, here there are lesions in large quantity, and the ovary may contain many large cysts. There are scar tissue in the fallopian tube, ovaries, uterus, and bladder.
There is no scientifically proved treatment to it; however, some medications or surgery can provide relief; they are as follows:
However, if you do not feel relieved, you can take personal measures like taking a warm shower, performing a hot fomentation technique on the belly. Regular exercise can also help with pain.
This hormonal therapy includes- Birth control pills, Gonadotropins-releasing hormone, progestin, or danazol.
The doctor might perform the following test to confirm Endometriosis:
When tissue gets accumulated in the inside walls of the ovaries, they form a cyst. These are the size of lumps and can be two or more. The cysts are usually 2 inches in length; however, they can grow up to 8 inches. These cysts can cause the following problem:
If you are trying to get pregnant and are unsuccessful, the doctor may recommend going through surgery. Surgery can also be an option if no amount of medicine or hormonal therapy has helped you. The doctor might perform standard surgery or laparoscope to cut out the unwanted tissue.
Removal of endometriosis tissue can increase the chance of pregnancy. But if you are considering going through a hysterectomy, this involves removing the uterus or even the ovaries, without which you cannot get pregnant.
If you have gone through laparoscopic surgery, then you will be able to recover fast. But if you have had hysterectomy surgery, it will take time to recover. You will have to take extra care of yourself, and the doctor might restrict you from some activity. Take suggestions from your doctor on how many days you will be able to go back to your everyday life. However, it can take about four to six weeks to recover from a hysterectomy.
You will experience shoulder pain after laparoscopic surgery because of the gas trapped in the abdomen. You will no longer have a period. If your doctor has removed your ovaries, you will enter menopause.
You can include the following in your diet:
Endometriosis surgery can be a little overwhelming. It is essential to go through the surgery in severe conditions and to avoid future problem anymore. The average cost of going through the surgery in India may range from 50,000 to 150,000. This amount only includes the direct price and may vary on many factors. This number may also depend on which hospital you are trying.