Endometriosis

What is Endometriosis?

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.

Types of endometriosis

There are mainly three categories of Endometriosis; it is as follows:

  • Greatly infiltrating Endometriosis: This type mainly develops in organs besides the uterus like bowels or urinary bladder. It grows under the peritoneum. About one to five percent of women have this kind of Endometriosis.
  • Peritoneal lesion: In this type of Endometriosis, the lesion formed on the peritoneum area acts line a thin lining in the pelvic region. Most women experience this type.
  • Endometrioma (ovarian injury): These develop deep inside the ovary and are deep red. Because of its deep red color and fluid texture, it is also called a chocolate cyst. They are not usually curable and is capable of damaging healthy tissue.
  • Symptoms of endometriosis

    The common signs that you may notice while suffering from Endometriosis are:

  • More painful menstrual cramps: Pelvic pain may get extended. It may start several days before the period and may continue after periods too. You can also experience pain in the abdomen and lower back too. The pain that you experience during menstruation may get worse.
  • Pain during intercourse: You may experience extreme pain during or after intercourse.
  • Pain during excretion: There will be pain during pooping or peeing, especially during the menstrual cycle.
  • Excessive bleeding: The blood flow may increase during periods. There may be blood in your stool or urine on regular days too.
  • Infertility: You may be facing problems relating to infertility.
  • Others: You may also feel unusual tiredness, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, etc.
  • When to see a doctor?

    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.
    Causes of endometriosis

    The causes of Endometriosis are not specific but might develop due to the following reason:

  • Retrograde menstruation: The condition where the period blood, instead of flowing out of the body, flows back to the fallopian tube into the pelvic region. The endometrial cell in the blood sticks to the pelvis in the walls of the pelvic organ. These cells grow and thicken every time in the menstrual cycle.
  • The peritoneal cells’ lining: The peritoneal cells, after transformation, act like endometrial-like cells and get lined up in the abdomen’s inner walls.
  • Due to embryonic cell: Estrogens transform embryonic cells into endometrial-like cells, which may develop lining.
  • Transportation of endometrial cells: The blood vessel or lymphatic system transports the blood containing endometrial cells in other body parts.
  • Weak immune system: If you have a weak immune system, it may not prevent the lining up of endometrial-like tissue.