Pregnancy and Endometriosis - Background
Endometriosis is a condition where tissues normally lining a woman’s uterus grow or attach to organs located outside. During the menstrual period itself, the uterual lining normally sheds by itself but the part that grows outside of the uterus stays. Throughout the entire process of ovulation and menstruation, one uterual tissue, which grows externally, becomes constantly provoked. It might get torn, disintegrate and bleed. This aggravation causes the formation of scar tissue and produces discomfort.
More than seven million females in the United States have endometriosis, says the Endometriosis Research Center. It is one of the primary causes of chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and gynecologic surgeries.
What Causes Endometriosis?
Presently, the cause of endometriosis remains unknown, but experts have suggested a few possible reasons. Studies to date indicate that the condition may be hereditary.
Symptoms
Usual signs and symptoms of endometriosis include irregular or labored breathing, pain during menstruation, chronic pelvic pain, lower back pain and fatigue. Females may also feel pain during ovulation and while having sex, GI problems like diarrhea, constipation or bloating, and even discomfort while passing stools. Endometriosis can result to infertility, in severe cases.
Diagnosis
The only sure method to diagnose endometriosis is through surgery. Other diagnostic exams like MRIs, ultrasound, or CAT scans are usually inconclusive. A doctor needs to study symptoms of the patient and her medical history. In an attempt to diagnose the illness, the doctor has the option to conduct a laparoscopic or a laparotomy procedure.
Endometriosis has yet to find a cure, but doctors suggest certain methods of treatment to help with its management.
Treatment
Methods to manage endometriosis include:
Pain Medication
Medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin, which are available over-the-counter, are used to decrease discomfort and pain. If that doesn’t work, prescription drugs may be recommended.
Hormonal Drug Therapy
Hormone drugs can be used to block a patient’s ovulation. The objective here is to prevent further aggravation of the lesions and guard against the onset of other symptoms. These medications include oral contraceptives, GnRH agonists and progesterone drugs. Hormone therapy is used especially for patients who have undergone surgery.
Surgery
Doctors use conservative surgery such as laparoscopy and laparatomy to diagnose the disease, as well as remove the abnormal growths. If this succeeds, it could help eliminate the pain and even raise the woman’s chances of conceiving.
If a conservative surgical procedure is ineffective, doctors may suggest a hysterectomy or some other invasive surgical method.
Alternative/Natural Therapy
A lot of patients opt to undergo natural types of treatment over surgery and medications. Some of the more popular alternative treatments include Chinese medicine, acupuncture and nutritional therapies such as fertility herbs. There exists a considerable amount of studies that support the effectiveness of these natural treatments to do no harm and to awaken the body’s inherent defense mechanisms and healing activity.
