What is endometriosis?
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Endometriosis comes from the word "endometrium," the endometrium is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus (womb), it builds up and sheds each month in the menstrual cycle (period). In a patient with endometriosis, the endometrium tissue is found outside of the uterus. Endometriosis is another puzzling disease that affects female in their reproductive years.Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, is also found in places outside the uterus. It can be found on the ligament supports of the uterus and nearby organs such as the ovaries, bladder, bowel, vagina, cervix and vulva. It can sometimes also be found in more distant organs, such as the lungs or navel. Endometriosis can appear as spots or patches called implants, or as cysts on the ovary. In mild cases of endometriosis, there may be only a few isolated implants, while in others the disease may be present throughout the pelvis. Endometriosis irritates surrounding tissues and can produce web-like scar tissue known as adhesions. The scar tissue can bind any of the pelvic organs to one another and in severe cases cover them completely.
Symptoms:
The most common symptoms of endometriosis are pain usually worse that period cramps before and during periods during or after sexual activity, infertility, also bleeding may be heavy and irregular. Other symptoms can include fatigue, painful bowel movements, lower back pain, diarrhea, constipation and other intestinal upset all occurring with your period. Some women with endometriosis have no symptoms. Infertility affects about 30-40% of women with endometriosis and is a common result with progression of the disease.The Cause:
Like with most of the conditions/syndromes on this web site the cause of this disorder is again not known. One theory is the retrograde menstruation or transtubal migration theory that during menstruation some of the menstrual tissue backs up through the fallopian tubes, implants in the abdomen, and grows. Some experts on endometriosis believe all women experience some menstrual tissue backup and that an immune system problem and/or hormonal problem allows this tissue to take root and grow in women who develop endometriosis. Another theory suggests that the endometrial tissue is distributed from the uterus to other parts of the body through the Lymph system or the blood system. A genetic theory suggests that it may be carried in the genes of certain families or that certain families may have predisposing factors to endometriosis.Another theory suggests that remnants of tissue from when the woman was an embryo may later develop into endometriosis or that some adult tissues retain the ability they had in the embryo stage to transform into reproductive tissue under certain circumstances. Surgical transplantation has also been cited as a cause in cases where endometriosis is found in abdominal surgery scars, although it has also been found in such scars when direct accidental implantation seems unlikely. Other theories are being developed by the Association and others researching endometriosis.
